Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of IPL 2026; LSG to name replacement in 24-48 hours

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have finally received word on their overseas buy, Wanindu Hasaranga, who has now been ruled out of the ongoing IPL 2026. Hasaranga suffered a left hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup opener against Ireland and has missed all action since. LSG’s director of cricket, Tom Moody, revealed midway through the away KKR tie, which the visitors famously won on the last ball, that Hasaranga is unlikely to link up with the team this season, as they now seek a replacement.
"We are preparing for the fact that he isn't going to be able to join us," Moody said. “We are looking at replacements that should be announced in 24-48 hours.”

Per earlier reports, Hasaranga decided against taking mandatory fitness tests under SLC’s observation, which is compulsory for a player to obtain the NOC from the cricket board. After LSG bought him for a base price of INR 2 crore, Hasaranga failed to show up for the franchise after picking up a hamstring injury.

While the former world number one T20I bowler represented the Rajasthan Royals (RR) last season, he played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from 2021 to 2023.

Who will replace Hasaranga?

Tom Moody revealed that LSG will seek his replacement at the earliest, with South African spin-bowling all-rounder George Linde emerging as the top contender. While his last appearance was during the bilateral T20I series against New Zealand, where he returned with only one wicket in the four matches, Linde has quite an experience plying his trade in several franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide.

Linde has been part of SA20, The Hundred, Major League Cricket, and even the PSL in the past 12 months, picking 218 wickets in 250 T20 matches at an economy of 7.42.