Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have replaced Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga with South African all-rounder George Linde for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Hasaranga has been ruled out due to a persistent hamstring injury sustained during Sri Lanka’s opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 in February.
Hasaranga, who was bought by LSG at the IPL auction for Rs 2 crore, has not played competitive cricket for nearly two months. His last outing came on 8 February, when he represented Sri Lanka against Ireland in a T20 World Cup fixture in Colombo. Reports indicate that he is still unable to bowl and has not applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket, further complicating his availability for the IPL.
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LSG’s Global Director, Tom Moody, confirmed the development during their match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata on Thursday, stating that Hasaranga would not participate in the IPL and that a replacement would be arranged within 24 to 48 hours.
George Linde, a left-handed batting all-rounder and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, has been signed by LSG at his reserve price of Rs 1 crore. This will be Linde’s first stint in the IPL. He brings considerable experience in the shortest format, having featured in 250 T20 matches globally, including 37 T20 Internationals for South Africa. He has extensively played for MI Cape Town in SA20, South Africa’s premier T20 competition, and MI New York in the Major League Cricket in the United States.
In international cricket, Linde has represented South Africa in three Tests and four ODIs. In T20 Internationals, he has accumulated 403 runs and taken 35 wickets, underlining his dual abilities with bat and ball.
WILL LINDE MAKE THE XI?
The decision to bring in Linde reflects LSG’s need for an experienced all-rounder who can contribute in both departments amid Hasaranga’s prolonged injury absence. The team will be keen to integrate Linde quickly as they navigate the remainder of the IPL season.
Hasaranga’s injury is a significant setback for LSG, given his impact as a leg-spinner and lower-order batter. On Thursday, LSG appeared short of batting options despite deploying Ayush Badoni as an Impact Player. They had Mohammed Shami, a tail-ender, coming in to bat at No. 8 – a position where most teams typically field a specialist finisher.
Nonetheless, LSG successfully chased down 182 against KKR, thanks to a whirlwind fifty from uncapped Mukul Choudhary, who unleashed helicopter shots reminiscent of his idol, MS Dhoni.
With two wins from three matches, LSG will next face Gujarat Titans at home on Sunday, April 12.
