Hasaranga ruled out of IPL 2026; LSG eye George Linde as replacement

Lucknow Super Giants have been dealt a setback with the confirmation that Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the remainder of IPL 2026 due to injury, forcing the franchise to look for a replacement.

Hasaranga has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup earlier this year and has not returned to competitive cricket since. His absence had already kept him out of LSG’s plans this season, and the team has now moved on to finalize a replacement.

According to team director Tom Moody, LSG expect to announce a new signing within the next 24 to 48 hours. Reports suggest that South Africa allrounder George Linde is the frontrunner to take Hasaranga’s spot.

Linde, a left-arm spinner with useful lower-order batting ability, has extensive experience in T20 leagues around the world, including SA20, The Hundred, and the PSL. Although he is yet to feature in the IPL, his all-round skills make him a strong candidate to fill the gap left by Hasaranga.

Interestingly, LSG’s bowling unit has performed well despite missing their marquee legspinner. Young talents like Digvesh Rathi and M Siddharth have stepped up, while the pace attack has also delivered disciplined performances.

However, the squad has had additional fitness concerns, with fast bowler Mohsin Khan also dealing with stiffness after the opening game. These issues have made squad depth even more crucial for LSG as the tournament progresses.

Hasaranga, who previously represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, was expected to play a key role this season after being picked at the auction. His absence is a blow, but LSG will hope their incoming replacement can maintain the balance and momentum of the squad.