The LSG fans have been disappointed with Wanindu Hasaranga being ruled out of the season, but now they have shifted their focus to the replacements. Gudakesh Motie would lead the race as he is exactly the kind of player that LSG is looking for and could hit a jackpot if he is roped in as the replacement.

Lucknow Super Giants Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, has stated that Wanindu Hasaranga is ruled out for the IPL 2026 season. He added that the Lucknow Super Giants will be announcing a replacement for the Sri Lankan all-rounder in the next 24 to 48 hours. LSG will have a huge void to fill as Wanindu Hasaranga is not just an ordinary leg-spin bowler, as he has many tricks up his sleeve, and he is an explosive lower-order batter who can contribute a few handy cameos towards the end of the innings.

There remains uncertainty regarding the reason why Wanindu Hasaranga is unavailable for the side, as Hasaranga hasn’t even appeared for the fitness test yet, and only based on the results, can the Sri Lankan board issue a NOC for the player to participate in the IPL. His last T20 appearance came against Ireland in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and he suffered a tear in his left hamstring. He is yet to recover fully, as he was only seen batting in the nets during a practice session in Colombo.

LSG weigh options as hunt begins for Hasaranga’s ideal replacement

With plenty of speculations circulating around the replacement of Wanindu Hasaranga, there are a lot of aspects that the LSG management will have to consider. Even though plenty of foreign power was acquired by other franchises in the auction, there are still some underrated talents who could be given a chance to come into the side as an injury replacement. Let’s take a look at the top 3 players who could potentially replace Wanindu Hasaranga at LSG:

3)George Linde

The South African all-rounder is one of those players who could replace Hasaranga with his all-round abilities. Linde has been in good form in recent times, and he is a bowler who can give them 4 overs and fire some handy runs down the order. He has been around the international stage and franchise cricket leagues for quite some time, and he has grown as a player.

In the SA20 league, he plays for the MI Cape Towns, and he has scored 432 runs from 28 innings at a strike rate of 140, and he has also picked up 32 wickets from 36 innings at an economy rate of 7. LSG have just 2 left-handers in their batting unit, and the addition of a left-hander could do some good. He adds flexibility to the squad with his technical ability with the bat, and he can provide support in case of batting collapses.

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2)Sikandar Raza

The Zimbabwe all-rounder is a pure match-winner, and the addition of such a player could add a lot of stability to the side. He is currently ranked as the top T20 all-rounder globally and has been consistent in the PSL 2026. He adds significant experience to the side, with immense leadership qualities that could contribute to the franchise's success.

In the 2026 ICC Men’s T20I World Cup, Sikandar Raza bounced back after a difficult opening game against the West Indies. He bounced back strongly with a 3-wicket haul against South Africa and also scored 73 runs in the same game. This performance by Sikandar Raza stood witness to his ability to adapt to the subcontinent conditions and his ability to score runs down the order. He can bat anywhere from No.4 to No.7, and he also bowls tight lengths with pace, almost like Krunal Pandya.

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1)Gudakesh Motie

Motie remains the top fit amongst all the options that we have discussed so far, as he seems like the perfect replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga. His mystery left-arm wrist spin could work magic on the Ekana surface and tighten the spin bowling unit. It is reported that the Lucknow Super Giants have monitored Motie closely, and the replacement call could be imminent.

In the 2026 ICC Men’s T20I World Cup, Gudakesh Motie proved his worth as a player for the West Indies. He picked up 9 wickets in the tournament, and he is also a reliable batter who can contribute runs at a high strike rate. LSG will be looking to exploit his skill of taking wickets, and can also use him as a floater down the order.