He was bought for INR 2 crore but never got to bowl a single delivery. Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been officially ruled out of IPL 2026, with Lucknow Super Giants confirming the news during their match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday.
The 28-year-old has not played competitive cricket since tearing his hamstring during Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup opener in February. LSG director of cricket Tom Moody revealed the franchise is already working on a replacement and expects an announcement within 24 to 48 hours.
Why Was Hasaranga Unable to Join LSG This Season
Hasaranga’s hamstring tear during the T20 World Cup 2026 in February set the timeline back significantly. He failed to recover in time for the start of the IPL season and could not join the LSG squad. Adding to his troubles, he did not take Sri Lanka Cricket’s mandatory fitness test earlier this week. SLC requires all centrally contracted players to pass the test before issuing an NOC for overseas leagues.
Moody confirmed the situation bluntly during the KKR match. He said the franchise is preparing for the fact that Hasaranga will not be able to join them this season.
How Will LSG Manage Without Hasaranga
The good news for LSG is that their bowling attack has already found its rhythm without him. The franchise sits fifth in the points table with two wins from three matches.
| Match | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Delhi Capitals | Lost |
| Match 2 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Won |
| Match 3 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Won by 3 wickets |
Their spin department features Digvesh Rathi, M Siddharth, and Shahbaz Ahmed. Mohammed Shami has led the pace attack superbly, while uncapped Prince Yadav has emerged as a standout quick in all three matches. LSG also received a match-winning contribution from Mukul Choudhary, who smashed 54 off 27 balls to snatch victory against KKR at Eden Gardens.
However, pacer Mohsin Khan remains a concern. Moody confirmed on Thursday that the impressive seamer has been dealing with some stiffness since the opening match against Delhi and has missed the last two games.
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Hasaranga’s IPL Journey So Far
Hasaranga has represented three IPL franchises across his career. He played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2021 to 2023 before joining Rajasthan Royals last season. LSG acquired him at the mini auction for this year, but the hamstring injury meant he never got to wear the Super Giants jersey on the field.
The Rishabh Pant-led franchise will now look for an overseas replacement who can add wicket-taking ability in the middle overs. With the tournament past its first phase and entering the business end, LSG needs to move quickly to fill the gap before momentum shifts.
