New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad have recruited South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee as an injury replacement for David Payne for the duration of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, the franchise announced Saturday.

Payne, a left-arm seamer, was forced out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury. Before his exit, he appeared in two matches for the Sunrisers, securing two wickets.

"Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have signed Gerald Coetzee as a replacement for David Payne for the remainder of TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026," the league confirmed in an official media advisory. "Payne - who played 2 games for SRH in the ongoing IPL season and picked 2 wickets from the same - is ruled out of the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury."

Coetzee's Profile and Experience

The 25-year-old Coetzee joins the Hyderabad-based squad for a fee of 20 million rupees (INR 2 crore). Although he remained unsold during the initial player auction this year, the right-arm quick brings substantial international experience, having earned 67 wickets across four Tests, 14 ODIs, and 18 T20Is for South Africa.

Coetzee is a familiar face in the IPL, having previously represented both the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans. Across 14 career appearances in the league, he has claimed 15 wickets. Most recently, he was a member of the South African squad for the T20 World Cup and participated in all five matches of a subsequent T20I series against New Zealand.

Team management expects Coetzee's aggressive pace to provide the necessary "firepower" to the bowling unit as the tournament enters its critical stages.

Roster Updates

In addition to the new signing, the Sunrisers welcomed the arrival of captain Pat Cummins, who joined the camp on April 17. While the team is scheduled to face the Chennai Super Kings later today, Cummins is not expected to take the field until the April 25 fixture against the Rajasthan Royals.