Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) overseas recruit David Payne has been ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing IPL 2026 season with an ankle injury. SRH made the official announcement across social media platforms on Thursday, April 16.
Payne had joined SRH as the injury replacement for Australia’s right-arm quick Jack Edwards, who had been ruled out of the entire IPL season with a foot injury. Edwards was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi for INR 3 crore.
Payne was roped in by SRH for INR 1.5 crore, but the 35-year-old English pacer will now head back home to continue with his recovery. Payne has played 235 T20 games in his career and bagged 306 wickets. He has an economy rate of 8.07 and an average of 21.25.
Payne was used as an Impact Player by SRH in their campaign opener against RCB on March 28. The left-arm seamer claimed the big wickets of the RCB captain Rajat Patidar and wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma. He finished with figures of 2/35 in three overs at an economy rate of 11.66. However, it was not sufficient as RCB beat SRH by six wickets and 26 balls to spare.
Payne played his second game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 2. He was only made to bowl two overs as he leaked 35 runs at an alarming economy rate of 17.50.
Earlier, Payne’s compatriot Brydon Carse was also ruled out of the entire IPL season. Sunrisers had retained Carse for INR 1 crore for the IPL 2026 season. However, he hurt his right hand while batting in the nets during a training session before the start of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2026 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
SRH receive major boost with Pat Cummins set to return
SRH’s designated captain, Pat Cummins, has confirmed that he will return to India on April 17 to rejoin the contingent. He has been cleared by Cricket Australia (CA) to return to competitive cricket after his scans in Sydney revealed his stress fractures had healed completely.
