Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed experienced England left-arm seamer David Payne as a replacement for the injured Jack Edwards ahead of IPL 2026. Payne joins the franchise for INR 1.5 crore after Edwards was ruled out of the entire season with a foot injury.
The 35-year-old brings a wealth of T20 experience with 304 wickets in 233 matches to a SRH bowling unit already stretched thin without captain Pat Cummins for the opening games. In a separate development, Kolkata Knight Riders confirmed Saurabh Dubey as Akash Deep’s replacement after the pacer’s lumbar stress injury ended his season.
Who Is David Payne, and What Does He Bring to SRH
Payne is Gloucestershire’s all-time leading T20 wicket taker. He topped the 2024 T20 Blast charts with 33 wickets in 17 innings. His T20 career average of 21.16 across 233 matches highlights his consistency as a strike bowler across formats and leagues.
His only international appearance came in a 2022 ODI against the Netherlands, where he picked up one wicket. Beyond county cricket, Payne has featured in the BBL for Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers, winning a title with the Scorchers. He also played for Welsh Fire in The Hundred and spent two seasons with Desert Vipers in the ILT20.
Edwards had been signed by SRH for INR 3 crore at the auction. His foot injury adds to the franchise’s growing list of absentees alongside Cummins and Eshan Malinga, who remains doubtful with a shoulder problem.
How Does Payne Fit Into SRH’s Bowling Plans
SRH desperately needed a left-arm seam option to add variety to their pace attack. With Cummins unavailable for the early matches, the franchise relies on Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, and Jaydev Unadkat as its primary seamers. Payne’s ability to swing the new ball and take wickets in the powerplay could prove valuable, especially at Chinnaswamy Stadium, where SRH open their campaign against RCB on March 28.
KKR Also Confirms Replacement for Injured Akash Deep
KKR signed left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey for INR 30 lakh after Akash Deep’s lumbar stress injury ruled him out for the season. The BCCI confirmed that Akash Deep will receive treatment at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. KKR had signed him for INR 1 crore at the December mini auction.
IPL 2026 Replacement Signings So Far
- David Payne replaces Jack Edwards at SRH (INR 1.5 crore)
- Saurabh Dubey replaces Akash Deep at KKR (INR 30 lakh)
- Blessing Muzarabani replaces Mustafizur Rahman at KKR
- Dasun Shanaka set to replace Sam Curran at RR
The injury crisis continues to deepen across franchises, with the tournament just four days away. SRH and KKR now carry the heaviest burden with multiple key players unavailable before the first ball of IPL 2026.
