South Africa all-rounder George Linde has been signed by Lucknow Super Giants to fill the gap left by the injured Wanindu Hasaranga for the TATA Indian Premier League. The move follows a statement from Tom Moody, the franchise’s global director of cricket, who had indicated on Thursday that the replacement would be confirmed within the next “24 to 48 hours” during LSG’s away fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. Moody’s straightforward approach drew praise from match commentators, especially since IPL franchises are typically cautious when it comes to sharing injury and squad updates. Instead, he made it clear that Hasaranga was unavailable and that a replacement had already been secured.
An IPL media release on Friday then confirmed the details: “Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have signed Protea all-rounder George Linde as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga, who has been ruled out of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.”
The release also explained Hasaranga’s situation. The Sri Lankan had been bought by LSG for INR 2 crore at the auction, but his participation has been disrupted by a hamstring injury picked up during Sri Lanka’s first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Linde’s profile was outlined as well. The signing brings in a left-handed batting all-rounder who delivers slow left-arm orthodox bowling. Linde has already represented South Africa across formats, featuring in 3 Tests, 4 ODIs and 37 T20 internationals. In T20Is specifically, he has amassed 403 runs and taken 35 wickets, underlining his value in the shortest format. The release further noted that he brings a wealth of experience, having played 250 T20 matches in total.
This will be Linde’s first appearance in the TATA IPL. He is set to join Lucknow at his reserve price of INR 1 crore.
LSG’s campaign momentum comes at an important time as well. After losing their opening match of the season to Delhi Capitals, the franchise has since won their most recent two games—against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders—moving them into a stronger position as the tournament progresses.
Against KKR, LSG were at one stage on the brink of defeat. With the equation reading 54 runs required from 24 balls and only three wickets remaining, the match looked difficult. However, Mukul Choudhary changed the complexion of the chase, smashing 54 off 27 balls and finishing unbeaten. His innings included seven sixes, and the impact was especially visible with two of those big hits arriving in the final over, ultimately helping LSG get over the line off the very last ball of the contest.
Team owner Sanjiv Goenka was clearly impressed by the effort and the way the chase unfolded, reflecting the satisfaction within the franchise after a dramatic win.
With the squad update now in place, LSG turn their attention to their next assignment against Gujarat Titans. The match is scheduled for Sunday at the Ekana Stadium, with an afternoon start.
