Sunrisers Hyderabad have confirmed the signing of England left-arm seamer David Payne as a replacement for Jack Edwards, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a foot injury.
The 35-year-old quick arrives amid a strong phase in his T20 career, having enjoyed a resurgence after stepping away from first-class cricket. Payne made his County Championship debut in April 2011 and established himself as a consistent performer in the longer format. However, his international opportunities were limited to a single ODI appearance for England, while recurring injury concerns also influenced his decision to focus solely on white-ball cricket.
Since transitioning to the T20 circuit, Payne has built a solid reputation in domestic and franchise competitions around the world. Across 233 T20 matches, he has claimed 304 wickets at an average of 21.16 with an economy rate of 8.03.
He finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Vitality Blast two seasons ago with 33 scalps, helping Gloucestershire secure the title. Payne has previously highlighted his effectiveness with the new ball, describing his role in the powerplay as his “super strength.”
Renowned for his slower deliveries, Payne also enjoyed success earlier this year in franchise leagues. He was part of the Desert Vipers side that won the ILT20 in January 2026 and later earned Player of the Final honours in the Big Bash League after returning figures of 3 for 18 for Perth Scorchers against Sydney Sixers.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad are already facing challenges at the start of the season with captain Pat Cummins unavailable while recovering from a lumbar stress fracture. The franchise will begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 28 with an opening fixture against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru.
