Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed Vidarbha left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for injured India seamer Akash Deep, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2026 season with a lumbar stress injury.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have brought in England cricketer David Payne as a replacement for injured Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards.
Akash Deep, who has featured in 10 Tests for India and taken 28 wickets, will undergo rehabilitation under the BCCI Medical Team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Dubey will join KKR for ₹30 lakh, according to an official IPL statement.
“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 BCCI Medical Team at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further management. Saurabh, a left-arm pacer, will replace him at KKR,” the statement read.
Welcome to the Knighthood, Saurabh pic.twitter.com/mUhkC2Cfdv
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 24, 2026
In a parallel move, SRH confirmed Payne’s signing as an injury replacement for Edwards. The left-arm seamer has played one ODI for England and brings significant T20 experience, with 304 wickets from 233 matches. He joins the franchise for ₹1.5 crore.
Jack Edwards has been ruled out of the season due to injury. Get well soon, Jack!
David Payne has been named as the replacement player for TATA IPL 2026 pic.twitter.com/iD3F5oNkId
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) March 24, 2026
Dubey, who was previously signed by SRH for IPL 2022, is yet to make his IPL debut after a back injury curtailed his earlier stint. He went unsold at last year’s mini-auction but remained part of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), making him eligible as a replacement signing.
The 27-year-old has featured in eight List A and three T20 matches for Vidarbha and was part of the India A squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. He has also been monitored closely in domestic circuits by former India pacer Subroto Banerjee.
SRH will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28, while KKR will face the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.