SRH struck with another injury blow [Source: @IPL/x]The SRH franchise has been struck with yet another injury blow to an Australian fast bowler after captain Pat Cummins ahead of the IPL 2026 season. With Cummins set to miss the early stages of SRH’s campaign, Jack Edwards has now been ruled out of the entire tournament. The Australian all-rounder was scheduled to represent the SRH franchise after he was acquired by the ‘Orange Army’ last December on the day of the IPL 2026 auction. It is worth noting that Edwards picked up a hamstring injury while playing for New South Wales in a 2025-26 Sheffield Shield match last month in Hobart, and the cricketer is yet to attain full recovery. SRH hit with another injury before IPL 2026 As confirmed by Cricbuzz on Thursday, March 19, i.e., roughly a week prior to the tournament opener, SRH’s multi-crore auction buy Jack Edwards has been ruled out of the IPL 2026 season. The cricketer is yet to attain full recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered for the New South Wales during the ongoing 2025-26 Sheffield Shield match last month. Also Read- IPL Founder Requests SRH's Kavya Maran For A Call If Needed Amidst Abrar Ahmed ControversyBatting at 46* off 48 balls against Tasmania in match 23 of the competition, Edwards was forced to be retired out. After picking up the important wicket of Beau Webster on Day 1 of the match, the speedster also did not bowl in the second innings, and it marked his last outing in competitive cricket before picking up the injury. As of now, the SRH team management will likely be looking for a replacement, and will be expected to make the announcement within the coming days. Jack Edwards earned maiden IPL contract amid BBL success In the opening match of the BBL 2025-26 season, Jack Edwards bludgeoned 46* runs off just 21 balls with six cracking boundaries and two huge sixes against Perth Scorchers. Batting at number six for the Sydney Sixers in Perth, his late cameo blazed his side to 113-5 in an 11-overs-a-side game. The 25-year-old also picked up wicket with the ball to cap a remarkable all-round performance for himself. A couple of days later, Edwards attracted a lucrative bid of Rs. 3 crores from the SRH franchise at the IPL 2026 auction. The Australian all-rounder justified his IPL signing by finishing the BBL 2025-26 season with 19 wickets in just 12 innings, and by scoring 133 runs in 10 innings at a clobbering strike rate of 168.35. Notably, this was set to be Edwards’ first-ever IPL season, adding an extra layer of disappointment to his untimely injury. IPL 2026 marred with numerous injury concerns Incidentally, SRH is not the only franchise to be plagued by injury concerns ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Several teams are struggling to retain their originally intended squads, with SRH itself losing its captain Pat Cummins for the initial stages due to injury, prompting the management to name Ishan Kishan as interim captain. Earlier this month, KKR fast bowler Harshit Rana was ruled out of the entire season owing to an injury he suffered prior to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Defending champions RCB are struggling with the recovery of Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood. Another Australian fast bowler, Nathan Ellis, originally bounded for the CSK, has also been ruled out of the entire tournament. The Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings franchises are also struggling with the injury concerns of New Zealand speedsters Adam Milne and Lockie Ferguson respectively. Also Read- NZ vs SA Match Prediction, 3rd T20I- Who Will Win Today? South Africa Tour of New Zealand 2026
