Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed England seamer David Payne as cover for the injured Jack Edwards, who has been sidelined for the 2026 IPL with a foot problem.
Payne, 35, has rebuilt his career since stepping away from red-ball cricket three seasons ago. The left-armer was a key part of Perth Scorchers’ Big Bash title in January and, earlier in the year, lifted the ILT20 trophy with Desert Vipers. Across 233 T20 matches he owns 304 wickets at 21.16, conceding a shade over eight an over.
“I still feel the new ball in the powerplay is my super strength,” Payne said last summer after topping the Vitality Blast wicket charts with 33 scalps for Gloucestershire. Those wickets propelled the county to the title and helped persuade several franchise coaches that his skills travel well.
Sunrisers talent-scout Hemang Badani called Payne “a proven option who can swing it early and finish at the death”, adding that his recent form “speaks for itself”. Head coach Daniel Vettori echoed that view: “We needed experience while Pat [Cummins] completes rehab, and David gives us just that.”
Cummins, recovering from a lumbar stress fracture, is expected to miss at least the opening fortnight. In his absence Bhuvneshwar Kumar is likely to deputise as captain when Sunrisers open the tournament against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 28 March.
For Payne the deal extends a productive winter on the road. Since quitting first-class cricket, the former England ODI cap has focused on slower balls, angles and an extra yard of pace generated through a shorter run-up. Bowling consultant Allan Donald observed during the ILT20: “David’s wrist position is outstanding. Even on flat decks he finds movement.”
Questions remain over workload. Payne has logged 55 overs in competitive T20s since Christmas and will be asked to shoulder fresh responsibility in Hyderabad’s attack, especially at the death where Edwards had excelled in last year’s IPL.
The player is unfazed. “I’ve managed my body better since ditching the red ball,” he told BBC Gloucestershire in February. “Franchise stints can be intense, but they’re spaced well enough for recovery.”
Balanced in the squad sheet, Sunrisers now possess three left-arm quicks—Payne, T. Natarajan and Marco Jansen—giving Vettori extra angles on a Bengaluru surface that usually offers pace and bounce early in the season.
Payne joins the squad later this week once formalities are complete. “I’m looking forward to contributing,” he said. “Nothing more, nothing less—just doing my job.”
