NewKerala.com

KKR, SRH Name Replacements for Injured Akash Deep, Jack Edwards in IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for the injured Indian fast bowler Akash Deep, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a lumbar stress injury. Sunrisers Hyderabad have brought in England's David Payne to replace the all-rounder Jack Edwards. KKR's bowling resources are further strained with Matheesha Pathirana also injured and Harshit Rana potentially missing the season. The replacements, Dubey and Payne, will join their respective franchises for Rs 30 Lakh and Rs 1.5 Crore.

Key Points: IPL 2026: KKR, SRH Announce Player Replacements for Injured Stars

  • KKR replaces Akash Deep with Saurabh Dubey
  • SRH replaces Jack Edwards with David Payne
  • Akash Deep ruled out with lumbar stress injury
  • KKR's bowling attack faces multiple injury setbacks
2 min read

KKR, SRH pick player replacements after Akash Deep, Jack Edwards ruled out

Kolkata Knight Riders sign Saurabh Dubey, Sunrisers Hyderabad pick David Payne as replacements for the injured Akash Deep and Jack Edwards for IPL 2026.

"Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have picked Saurabh Dubey and David Payne, respectively as player replacements. - IPL Statement"

Mumbai, March 24

Kolkata Knight Riders roped in pacer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for injured Akash Deep, while Sunrisers Hyderabad announced England's David Payne as a replacement for Jack Edwards ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season.

A statement from the IPL announced, "Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have picked Saurabh Dubey and David Payne, respectively as player replacements for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026."

Akash Deep - a right-arm pacer, who has played 10 Tests for India, scalping 28 wickets - has been ruled out of the season due to a lumbar stress injury. He will be under the care of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Medical Team at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru for further management of his injury.

Akash Deep's omission is a huge blow to KKR, which released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman last year on the BCCI's instructions in light of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. They roped in Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani as his replacement after a brilliant T20 WC which saw him take 13 wickets in six matches. Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, bought for Rs 18 crores last year, is yet to join the KKR camp as he is facing an injury as well. Indian pacer Harshit Rana, who missed the T20WC, is also staring at a likelihood of missing the entire IPL season.

Saurabh, a left-arm pacer, will replace Akash at KKR. He will join KKR for Rs 30 Lakh. He has gone wicketless in three T20s played throughout his career.

Meanwhile, 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 Rs 1.5 Crore.

Edwards was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Big Bash League (BBL) last year with 19 scalps in 13 games at an average of 18.47, including a fifer and also scored 133 runs in 10 innings at an average of 22.16, striking at above 168 with a best score of 46*.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
SRH seems to have made a smarter pick with David Payne. He has a lot of T20 experience, over 300 wickets! Losing Edwards is a blow, but Payne looks like a solid replacement on paper. Good luck to both teams 🤞
A
Aman W
Feel so bad for Akash Deep bhai. Just when he was getting established in the Test side, this injury happens. BCCI's medical team is top-class, so I'm sure he'll recover well. The season is long, player health should come first. Wishing him a speedy recovery 🙏
P
Priyanka N
KKR's management needs to be questioned here. Releasing Mustafizur was the right call given the circumstances, but the backup planning seems poor. Spending 18 crores on Pathirana who is often injured, and now picking a replacement who is virtually untested? Not a good look before the season even starts.
D
David E
As an England fan, David Payne is a very good T20 bowler. He's been a consistent performer in the Vitality Blast for years. SRH have got a bargain at 1.5 crore if he adapts to the Indian conditions. Edwards will be missed, but Payne is a like-for-like seam-bowling all-rounder.
V
Vikram M
This is why IPL is so exciting! Unknown players get a chance to become stars overnight. Who had heard of Harshit Rana before last season? Maybe Saurabh Dubey will be this season's surprise package. Have to trust the scouts and the coaching staff. #KKR #IPL2026

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50