Ahead of IPL 2026, preparations are in full swing with various franchises having to rejig their squads owing to injuries for some key players. CSK, KKR, SRH & RR announce replacement players: Teams have announced new signings as the player replacements for the upcoming season. The moves happen only weeks ahead of the tournament, underlining how teams move quickly to ensure they have strong and competitive squads.
Chennai Super Kings Sign Spencer Johnson as Replacement
IPL five-time winners Chennai Super Kings roped in Australian seamer Spencer Johnson as a replacement for injured fast bowler Nathan Ellis. Ellis was ruled out of the season because of injury as CSK pursues an experienced fast-bowling option.
Johnson has joined the Chennai-based franchise at ₹1.5 crore. The left-arm quick made five One Day Internationals and eight T20 Internationals appearances for Australia in international cricket. He has taken 18 wickets in those matches, demonstrating his amenability to the international game.
The 29-year-old is not a stranger to the IPL environment. He has previously been in the squads of Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders, so he is familiar with the pressure and competitive atmosphere in the league. His left-arm variation will add to CSK’s bowling arsenal this time around with his pace.
KKR and SRH Make Key Squad Changes
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have also made a major change after Indian pace bowler Akash Deep was ruled out of IPL 2026 with lumbar stress injury. The pacer, who had played 10 Tests for India in which he took 28 wickets appears to remain under the supervision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
KKR have roped in left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey for ₹30 lakh as his replacement. Already regarded as one of the promising young domestic fast bowlers, Dubey will get to make his mark on one of the biggest T20 stages.
On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed experienced English pacer David Payne as an injured replacement for Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards. Payne was taken by Hyderabad in ₹1.5 crore. Payne has only made one ODI appearance for England but boasts a solid T20 record having played in more than 230 matches and taking over 300 wickets in the format.
Rajasthan Royals Add Dasun Shanaka to Squad
Rajasthan Royals are among the franchises who have made a significant change by signing Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka in place of England star and all-rounder Sam Curran, who has been ruled out through injury.
The Royals acquired Shanaka for ₹2 crore. The Sri Lankan international adds vast experience in all formats of the game. He has played in 6 Test matches, 71 ODIs and 131 T20 Internationals for Sri Lanka, scoring over 3,350 international runs and taking a further 86 wickets with the ball.
The all-rounder also has some previous IPL experience to his name, having represented Gujarat Titans in the past. He brings a lot to the table both as a batsman and as a bowler, which makes him an important part of the Rajasthan group.
As IPL 2026 beckons, these replacement signings may prove pivotal in determining how well teams perform. Injuries are an unfortunate aspect of playing professional sports, as they affect every franchise to some degree, but general managers do adapt quickly by acquiring experience and talent to make sure the team is competitive in one of the most watched cricket leagues in the world.
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