LSG sign George Linde as replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga

South Africa's T20I allrounder George Linde has replaced Wanindu Hasaranga at Lucknow Super Giants for the rest of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season. Linde has played 37 T20Is, three Tests, and four ODIs for the Proteas.

He has a combined experience of 250 T20s in which he has scored 2746 runs at a strike rate of 136.68 and claimed 218 wickets at 7.42. Though this will be his maiden stint in the IPL, the 34-year-old has the enriching experience of playing in the SA20 (MI Cape Town), Major League Cricket (MI New York), The Hundred (Trent Rockets), and the Pakistan Super League (Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi).

Hasaranga suffered a tear in his left hamstring during the course of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign in February and is still undergoing rehabilitation. LSG's Global Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, confirmed that he won't be joining them this IPL season, during their away game against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on April 9.

"We are preparing for the fact that he (Wanindu Hasaranga) isn't going to be able to join us. We are looking at replacements, that should be announced in 24-48 hours," Moody told the broadcaster during the fixture.

Meanwhile, LSG are fifth on the table with four points in three games, including two wins and a loss. Their campaign began with a six-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals on April 1 at home. However, they have been travelling well thus far as they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad by five wickets and KKR at the Eden by three wickets.

They are behind Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Rajasthan Royals on the points table. LSG will now face the 2022 champions, Gujarat Titans, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow in the 19th game of the season on April 12.