SRH sign David Payne as replacement for Jack Edwards ahead of IPL 2026

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are all set to start their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign on March 28 against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bengaluru. Ahead of the tournament, several injuries have plagued the franchises, and SRH are one of them.

While they aren't sure about Pat Cummins' arrival, another Australian bowler has sustained an injury ahead of the IPL 2026. SRH have brought in a replacement just days before the start of the tournament. They'll hope for Cummins' return since he is an experienced player as welll as the team's captain. 

Why Jack Edwards has been ruled out of IPL 2026

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) picked up Jack Edwards during the IPL mini auction in December 2025. They brought him for INR 3 crores, but now, he has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. There is no other information on the Australian as of now. This is surely a huge blow since the franchise will not have Pat Cummins as well. 

Despite his injury, they do have a strong bowling line-up. SRH have also brought in his replacement for the season, so this might not be a huge issue as of now. They have players like Nitish Reddy, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, and others who have much experience in the tournament. 

Who is David Payne? SRH’s new replacement explained

David Payne is an English cricketer, specifically a left-arm fast-medium bowler known for his proficiency in T20 and white-ball cricket. He played one ODI for England against the Netherlands in 2022. He was part of the Perth Scorchers' title-winning BBL12 side and played in the ILT20 and Vitality Blast. SRH have signed Payne for Rs 1.5 crore. 

The 35-year-old player has not played many matches for England, but he surely has a lot of experience. He has played 233 T20s and taken 304 wickets, which is magnificent. Payne will be a great replacement for Jack Edwards this season if he gets to play any games. 

Fans react to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s latest squad change

The fans are super excited for the Orange Army as they have signed David Payne. Their bowling unit has become quite strong now, and it will be intriguing to watch them play in the IPL 2026. In the absence of Pat Cummins, Ishan Kishan will handle the team's responsibility with Abhishek Sharma as his deputy.