RS Ambrish was a part of India U19's World Cup winning squad. (Image: Instagram/@_.ambrish.rs._)

IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad rope in U19 star as injury replacement for Shivam Mavi

IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad signed India U19 all-rounder RS Ambrish as Shivam Mavi's replacement, with the teenager becoming their latest injury-enforced addition this season.

01 May 2026, 13:30 by Amar Sunil Panicker · India Today

In Short

Sunrisers Hyderabad signed RS Ambrish as Shivam Mavi’s replacement.
Ambrish took 11 wickets as India won the Under-19 World Cup
Injuries forced Sunrisers into yet another squad reshuffle this season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have turned to India’s Under-19 pool once again, naming promising all-rounder RS Ambrish as an injury replacement for Shivam Mavi for the remainder of IPL 2026.

The franchise confirmed the move on Friday after Mavi was ruled out of the tournament with a groin injury, forcing Hyderabad into yet another personnel reshuffle in what has been a stop-start season on the injury front.

Mavi, a right-arm seamer, had been expected to provide depth and flexibility to Sunrisers’ pace attack, but his campaign has now been cut short before he could make a sustained impact. In his place comes Ambrish, one of India’s emerging Under-19 prospects and a player regarded as one of the more useful seam-bowling all-round options from this year’s World Cup-winning squad.

The 19-year-old arrives with growing reputation after playing a key role in India’s successful Under-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year. Ambrish finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets and established himself as a reliable option with the ball across conditions. His control, consistency and ability to strike regularly made him one of India’s more dependable performers during the title-winning run.

A right-arm medium pacer and left-handed batter, Ambrish gives Sunrisers a player with balance and utility. While his primary value lies in his seam bowling, his ability to contribute lower-order runs adds another dimension to Hyderabad’s options as they continue to juggle combinations in the second half of the season. He joins the franchise for Rs 30 lakh.

INJURIES FORCE ANOTHER RESET

Ambrish has also already taken his first steps into senior domestic cricket. He made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in 2025 and has featured in two matches for the state, giving Sunrisers another glimpse of a player already beginning to transition into the senior game.

His arrival is the latest in a string of enforced changes for Hyderabad. The franchise had earlier brought in David Payne as a replacement for Jack Edwards, though the left-armer managed only two appearances before being ruled out with a persistent ankle injury. Payne picked up two wickets in those matches but struggled for control, conceding at an economy rate of 14.

Sunrisers then turned to Gerald Coetzee to replace Payne, continuing a season shaped by constant squad adjustments. They have also added Dilshan Madushanka, further underlining how heavily injuries have forced them to rework their bowling resources.

Ambrish is the latest name through that revolving door, but Hyderabad will hope the teenager offers more than just cover.

- Ends