England left-arm pacer David Payne joins SRH after strong performances in ILT20 and BBL; Pat Cummins also set to miss early matches

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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have signed experienced England left-arm fast bowler David Payne as a replacement for Jack Edwards, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a foot injury. The move comes as SRH look to strengthen their bowling attack ahead of the new season.

The 35-year-old Payne has been in excellent form in recent T20 leagues, making him a valuable addition to the SRH squad. After stepping away from first-class cricket, Payne has revived his career in the shortest format, becoming a consistent performer across global T20 competitions.

Payne brings significant experience, having played 233 T20 matches and taken 304 wickets at an impressive average of 21.16, along with an economy rate of 8.03. His ability to deliver in the powerplay and variations like his effective slower ball make him a strong asset in high-pressure situations.

One of Payne’s standout achievements came in the Vitality Blast, where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 33 wickets, guiding Gloucestershire to the title. More recently, he enjoyed title-winning campaigns in both ILT20 2026 with the Desert Vipers and the Big Bash League (BBL), where he was named Player of the Final after taking 3 for 18 for Perth Scorchers against Sydney Sixers.

SRH are also dealing with the temporary absence of their captain Pat Cummins, who is recovering from a lumbar stress fracture and is expected to miss the initial matches of IPL 2026. This makes Payne’s inclusion even more crucial as the team prepares for the opening game against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28 in Bengaluru.

With Payne’s current form and experience, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be hoping to maintain a strong start to their IPL 2026 campaign despite early setbacks.