LSG name veteran South African as replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga amid IPL 2026 

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have named South African left-arm spinner George Linde as the official replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan all-rounder did not partake in the fitness test after his hamstring injury in the T20 World Cup, and as a result, was not issued the No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody had revealed that Wanindu Hasaranga will be unavailable and a replacement has been established, during an interaction with the broadcasters on the sidelines of their clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens.

Reports had suggested that Wanindu Hasaranga had begun batting in the nets, but had not resumed bowling after the injury. LSG were reportedly left without a definite update on the player’s front, and decided to name a replacement in the early stages of the campaign itself.

“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. This will be his maiden stint in the TATA IPL. He will join LSG at his reserve price of INR 1 crore,” a statement on iplt20.com read.

George Linde is an experienced T20 campaigner for both South Africa as well as across the various franchise leagues around the world. The left-arm spinner had recently featured in the T20I series against New Zealand after the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

LSG’s George Linde has a batting and bowling average of 46.00 and 36.75, respectively, in India

The Proteas star has featured in five T20Is in India, the majority of which came during the T20 World Cup 2026. He has scored 46 runs in two innings, and has picked up four wickets at an economy of 8.65.

Linde’s 2026 exploits include the SA20 2026 campaign with the MI Cape Town, where he bagged eight wickets in 10 matches at an average of 26.00 and an economy 7.70.