KKR and SRH Scramble for Replacements Before IPL 2026 Begins

Two IPL franchises, two fresh injury headaches, two replacements — KKR and SRH have both been forced into last-minute squad changes just days before IPL 2026 gets underway, and the names they have brought in tell very different stories.

KKR’s Blow: Akash Deep Out for the Season

India Test pacer Akash Deep, who has taken 28 wickets in 10 Tests, has been ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 with a lumbar stress injury — the same kind of back complaint that has troubled several fast bowlers across formats this season. He will be under the care of the BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

KKR have brought in left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey from Vidarbha as his replacement for just Rs 30 lakh. Dubey, 28, came to KKR’s camp as a net bowler and earned his spot in the main squad through impressive showings in an intra-squad match and two net sessions. The 6-foot-5 pacer was previously signed by SRH for IPL 2022 but suffered a back injury before making his debut. He went unsold at last year’s auction but was available through the Registered Available Player Pool, which allowed KKR to sign him as a direct replacement.

SRH’s Problem: Edwards Gone, Payne In

SRH had already been without Pat Cummins for the start of the season due to a lumbar stress issue. They then lost Jack Edwards — the Australian all-rounder they bought for Rs 3 crore at the auction — to a foot injury that rules him out entirely. Edwards, 25, would have made his IPL debut this season.

In his place, SRH have turned to 35-year-old England left-arm seamer David Payne, who joins for Rs 1.5 crore. Payne is not a household name in international cricket — he has played just one ODI for England — but he is a seasoned and highly effective T20 bowler.

He brings 304 wickets from 233 T20 matches at an average of 21.16 and an economy rate of 8.03. The 35-year-old has been in excellent form recently, having won both the ILT20 and the BBL earlier this year. He is a left-arm seamer who is particularly effective with the new ball and in the death overs.

Crucially, unlike Saurabh Dubey who is yet to debut, Payne will be available from SRH’s very first match on March 28 against defending champions RCB.

IPL 2026’s Growing Injury List

The two signings are part of a much bigger picture of a pre-season ravaged by injuries.

KKR open their campaign against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on March 29, while SRH play the tournament opener against RCB at Chinnaswamy on March 28. Both sides are already playing without some of their most important bowling names — and the competition has not even begun.