Lucknow Super Giants have suffered a significant blow ahead of the ongoing IPL 2026 campaign, with Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the tournament. The franchise is now expected to name a replacement in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Quick facts
- Wanindu Hasaranga is ruled out of IPL 2026 for Lucknow Super Giants.
- LSG is expected to announce a replacement within 24–48 hours.
- George Linde is viewed as the frontrunner for the slot.
- LSG beat Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets in a last-ball chase of 182.
- Ayush Badoni made 54 and Mukul Choudhary struck 54* in the run chase.
During LSG’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Thursday, Moody indicated that the team is already planning without Hasaranga. “We are preparing for the fact that he isn’t going to be able to join us,” he said, adding that the club is “looking at replacements” which should be finalised within the next day or two.
George Linde, South Africa’s left-arm spinner, has emerged as the leading option to step into the squad. Linde has yet to play in the IPL, but this opening could provide him with his first taste of the league.
Hasaranga has been sidelined since suffering a left hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s opening match at the T20 World Cup in February. Earlier this week, it was also reported that he had not completed the required fitness assessments under Sri Lanka Cricket’s supervision—an NOC condition necessary to be eligible for IPL participation.
In IPL 2026’s mini-auction, Lucknow had secured Hasaranga for INR 2 crore. However, injury issues prevented him from joining the playing group, despite the purchase. The former spinner previously featured for Rajasthan Royals last season, and also represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2021 to 2023.
Linde’s recent form and T20 record
Linde’s most recent T20 outing came during the bilateral series against New Zealand, where he picked up a single wicket across four innings. While that stretch may not have been headline-grabbing, he has stayed busy throughout the year, appearing in major T20 tournaments including the T20 World Cup and franchise competitions such as SA20, The Hundred, Major League Cricket, and the PSL.
Across his T20 career, Linde has taken 218 wickets in 250 matches, with an economy rate of 7.42—figures that suggest he can bring control as well as wickets if given a sustained role for Lucknow.
LSG stun KKR in a last-ball chase
Despite the injury setback, Lucknow Super Giants delivered a high-drama response on the field, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets after chasing 182 with a last-ball finish. Ayush Badoni provided a key platform with a half-century of 54, while debutant Mukul Choudhary struck 54* to guide the chase home.
Choudhary and Avesh Khan then formed an unbeaten 54-run stand for the eighth wicket or lower—the top partnership of its kind in a successful IPL chase. What made it even more striking was the split in scoring: Choudhary accounted for 52 of those runs, with Avesh managing just 1* off three balls as the finishing power sat heavily with Choudhary.
Earlier in the contest, KKR posted 181/4, building their total through contributions from Ajinkya Rahane (41) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45). The innings also saw a late push, with Rovman Powell and Cameron Green providing the acceleration near the end.
In the end, Lucknow showed composure under pressure to craft one of the season’s most dramatic chases, turning a challenging target into a memorable win as the match swung all the way to the final delivery.
