Lucknow Super Giants have signed South Africa's George Linde as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga for the rest of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, SportzRev reported on Friday.
Hasaranga hasn't played any cricket since tearing his left hamstring during Sri Lanka's opening game at the T20 World Cup in February. He also did not take the fitness test mandate by Sri Lanka Cricket in order to obtain a No Objection Certificate that could enabled him to play in the IPL. LSG had bought Hasaranga for Rs 2 crore at the previous IPL auction.
Like Hasaranga, Linde too is an all-rounder. However, their bowling styles are different. While Hasaranga bowls with his right-arm and is a leg spinner, Linde is a left-arm off-spinner. Both can be effective batters lower down the order.
Linde has represented South Africa in three Tests, four ODis and 37 T20Is. Despite having limited opportunities of playing for the Proteas, the 34-year-old is a vastly experienced T20 player. He has featured in 250 T20s and picked 218 wickets and accumulated 2,746 runs.
His last top-tier cricket match was in March when he played a T20I match against New Zealand.
LSG are fifth on the IPL points table with two wins and a loss from their first three matches of the season. The Rishabh Pant-led side will next play Gujarat Titans on April 12 in Lucknow.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.