Big shock to Lucknow Supergiants, star Sri Lankan all-rounder Venindu Hasringa The IPL 2026 season has been ruled out. The franchise is expected to announce a replacement within the next 24 to 48 hours, reports ESPNcricinfo.“We are preparing for the fact that he will not be able to join us,” Modi said during LSG’s game against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata on Thursday. “We are considering changes, it should be announced in 24-48 hours.”South African left arm spinners George Linde Is the frontrunner to replace Hasringa. Linde, who is yet to feature in the IPL, may get his first chance at the tournament. Hasringa has been out of action since tearing his left hamstring during Sri Lanka’s opening game in the T20 World Cup in February. ESPNcricinfo reported earlier this week that Hasaringa had not taken the mandatory fitness test under the SLC’s supervision, which was mandated to get an NOC to join the IPL.In the IPL 2026 mini-auction, LSG acquired Hasaranga for Rs 2 crore in the auction, but due to injury he could not make the squad. He previously represented Rajasthan Royals last season and Royal Challengers Bengaluru between 2021 and 2023.George Linde’s latest T20 appearance came in the bilateral series against New Zealand, where he managed just one wicket in four innings. However, he has been active on the global circuit over the past year, featuring in the T20 World Cup and franchise leagues such as SA20, The Hundred, Major League Cricket, and PSL. Overall, he took 218 wickets in 250 T20 matches at an economy rate of 7.42.LSG defeated KKR in a last-ball thriller.Despite the setback, Lucknow Supergiants chased down 182 off the last ball to register a thrilling three-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Half-centuries from Ayush Baduni (54) and debutant Mukul Chaudhary (54*) followed, with Chaudhary’s explosive finish sealing the win in dramatic fashion.Mukul Chaudhary and Awish Khan put together an unbeaten partnership of 54 runs, the highest partnership for the eighth wicket or less in a successful IPL chase. Notably, Chaudhary scored 52 of them, while Avesh contributed just 1* off 3 balls. Earlier, KKR posted 181/4, with late flourishes from Ajinkya Rahane (41), Angkrish Raghunshi (45), and Rowman Powell. Cameron Greene.However, LSG held their nerve to pull off one of the most dramatic chases of the season.
