The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have confirmed that star Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the IPL 2026 season due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. LSG's director of cricket, Tom Moody, announced that a replacement will be named within 24 to 48 hours, with South African spinner George Linde being a likely candidate. Hasaranga, who was acquired for INR 2 crore (approximately $240,000 USD) during the last auction, has been unable to join the squad due to his ongoing recovery. In a recent match, LSG triumphed over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by three wickets, successfully chasing down a target of 182 runs. Key performances included half-centuries from Ayush Badoni (54) and Mukul Choudhary (54*), with Choudhary's explosive finishing helping secure the win in a nail-biting finish.