SRH officially announce replacement for injured Australian ahead of IPL 2026
Published - 24 Mar 2026, 01:07 PM | Updated - 24 Mar 2026, 01:21 PM
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) announced a player replacement ahead of the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The Hyderabad-based franchise acquired English fast bowler David Payne to replace injured Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards for the upcoming marquee tournament.
Edwards will miss the entire 19th edition of the Indian Premier League after suffering a severe foot injury. Sunrisers Hyderabad had purchased the all-rounder for ₹3 crore during last year's auction. Notably, the player recently made his international debut for Australia against Pakistan in January this year.
David Payne Replaces Jack Edwards for SRH Ahead of IPL 2026
On March 24, the IPL released an official statement confirming that David Payne has joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1.5 crore. Payne has played one One Day International for the England national team.
"Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have picked David Payne as a player replacement for TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026," the statement read.
"Payne is an injury replacement for Jack Edwards at SRH. Payne has played one ODI for England, in addition to 233 T20s, scalping 304 wickets from the same. He will join SRH for INR 1.5 Crore," the statement added.
Jack Edwards Signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹3 Crore Ahead of IPL 2026
Sunrisers Hyderabad signed Jack Edwards for ₹3 crore at last year’s auction. He was their only uncapped overseas player picked. Soon after, the 25-year-old broke into the Australian side and featured in a T20I against Pakistan in late January.
Edwards impressed during the 2025-26 Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers, claiming 19 wickets and scoring 133 runs across 13 matches. He made his T20I debut in Lahore, delivering a modest spell and a small contribution with the bat in a losing cause.
He later played two Sheffield Shield games for New South Wales but missed the final fixture of the season. In his last appearance, he scored 46 off 48 balls before retiring hurt due to a hamstring injury and took no further part.
David Payne Experience in International and Franchise Cricket
The 35-year-old David Payne is an experienced left-arm seamer who has played one ODI for England. He has featured in 233 T20 matches, taking 304 wickets at an average of 21.16. His only international appearance came in 2022 against the Netherlands.
Payne has been a key performer for Gloucestershire in T20 cricket and remains their leading wicket-taker in the format. He topped the charts in the 2024 T20 Blast with 33 wickets in 17 innings and also represented the Welsh Fire in The Hundred.
He has gained franchise experience across leagues, including the BBL, where he won the title with the Perth Scorchers. He also had a stint with the Adelaide Strikers and later played two seasons in the ILT20 for the Desert Vipers.
The 10-team tournament will begin on Saturday, March 28, with Sunrisers Hyderabad facing defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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