‘They are at the biggest loss’ – Aakash Chopra names most-affected team with injury crisis ahead of IPL 2026

Former India batter-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has namedropped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as the side most affected by the recent influx in injuries ahead of the start of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

With just around a week left for the start of the 19th season of the IPL, a host of overseas players have pulled out of the tournament due to injuries or workload management. SRH are one of the victims of this unfortunate set of events with their captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Eshan Malinga not cleared to take part of the tournament. Furthermore, Australia all-rounder Jack Edwards, whom they paid INR 3 crore in the most recent mini auction, has also been ruled out with an injury.

Chopra believes that losing three overseas bowlers could hamper SRH’s chances at the 2026 IPL season. This will also increase the burden on Indian bowlers like Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel to have stand out seasons in their absence. 

“At this moment, it seems like a team that will be troubled a lot are the Sunrisers Hyderabad. We came to know about the captain. Apart from him, there was hope that Jack Edwards is part of the team, and that he could be used, but you won’t be able to use him as well. He is not there. He has also left,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“So Jack Edwards has left and Pat Cummins isn’t available at the moment. Brydon Carse is there, but we don’t know about Eshan Malinga. So three of their overseas players aren’t available at the moment, and that is a big problem. S,o the Sunrisers Hyderabad are at the greatest loss at the moment,” he added.

As things stand, England all-rounder Brydon Carse is the only overseas pace bowler fit within the SRH camp ahead of the start of the tournament. The Durham player, however, has not played a T20 since October last year and was not picked England’s squad for 2026 T20 World Cup.

The 2016 champions, however, might not need more than Carse in their playing XI, as they have a fearsome overseas batting unit consisting of Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head and the newly-signed Liam Livingstone. Should they play all three of their batters, Carse could will be the sole overseas bowlers in the lineup.