Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has pointed out Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as the team most impacted by injuries ahead of IPL 2026.

With just a week to go before the start of the 19th IPL season, several overseas players have pulled out due to injuries or workload management. SRH have been hit particularly hard as captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Eshan Malinga are unavailable, Jack Edwards, bought for INR 3 crore in the latest mini-auction, will miss the tournament because of an injury.

Chopra believes the absence of three key overseas bowlers could significantly affect SRH’s chances this season, and the onus is on Indian bowlers Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel to step up and deliver match-winning performances.

“Right now, it looks like Sunrisers Hyderabad could face significant challenges. We learned about their captain’s situation, and there was hope that Jack Edwards would be available to play, but he won’t be. He’s also out,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“So, Jack Edwards is out, and Pat Cummins is unavailable right now. Brydon Carse is fit, but Eshan Malinga’s status is uncertain. That means three of their key overseas players are missing, which is a major setback. At the moment, Sunrisers Hyderabad are facing the biggest loss,” he added.

Currently, England’s Brydon Carse is the only fit overseas pace option in the SRH squad. However, he hasn’t played a T20 match since October last year and was not included in England’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad.

Despite these setbacks, SRH might still manage effectively thanks to a strong overseas batting lineup that includes Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, and new signing Liam Livingstone. If all three batters feature in the playing XI, Carse could be the lone overseas bowler for the team.

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