The saga of player injuries in the IPL 2026 season shows no signs of concluding. Even before the new season commenced, several players were ruled out due to injuries, and this trend has persisted even after the tournament began. Fast bowlers, in particular, have faced the brunt of these injury setbacks. On Thursday, April 16, two franchises suffered significant blows on the same day. Following the exit of Chennai Super Kings' star pacer Khaleel Ahmed, Sunrisers Hyderabad has also lost one of its key bowlers.
David Payne Ruled Out for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad, currently experiencing a season of ups and downs, made an official announcement on their social media accounts on Thursday, April 16. The franchise confirmed that England's fast bowler David Payne has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. Payne sustained an ankle injury, which has rendered him unfit to continue playing in the current IPL season. 5 crore rupees. He participated in 2 matches this season, securing 2 wickets. While the team has not yet announced a replacement for David Payne, an announcement is expected soon.
Boost for SRH: Captain Pat Cummins Declared Fit
This news for Sunrisers Hyderabad comes at a time when the team's captain and Australian legend, Pat Cummins, has been declared fit for the IPL. Cummins, who had not played a single match this season due to a back injury, recently returned to his home country for final medical evaluations. Following these tests, Cricket Australia officially announced his fitness for the IPL. Cummins is now expected to take the field for the team shortly, providing a much-needed boost to the Hyderabad squad.
CSK Loses Khaleel Ahmed Amidst Performance Struggles
Earlier on the same Thursday, Chennai Super Kings announced the exit of their left-arm fast bowler, Khaleel Ahmed, from the tournament. For the Super Kings, who have already been struggling with poor performance this season, Khaleel had been delivering consistent and powerful performances. Khaleel played a significant role in the only 2 victories Chennai has secured so far this season. Consequently, the challenges for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 continue to mount with his departure.