Ayush Badoni Joins Elite LSG Club in Thriller Win; Hasaranga Ruled Out of IPL 2026

Milestones don’t always wait for quiet moments. Sometimes, they arrive in the middle of chaos—under lights, inside a chase, with the game tilting and time running out.

That’s where Ayush Badoni found his. At Eden Gardens, chasing 182 against Kolkata Knight Riders, Badoni didn’t just steady Lucknow Super Giants—he stepped into their record books.

A crisp push, a couple taken, and just like that, he crossed 1,000 IPL runs for the franchise.

A small moment in the scorecard. But a big one in context. Because with that, Badoni became only the third batter to reach the milestone for LSG.

But he didn’t stop there. Badoni built. Through a chase that refused to settle, he stitched together a measured, decisive 54 off 34 balls—threading gaps, absorbing pressure, and keeping LSG in the fight as wickets hovered around him.

Seven fours. Two sixes. No panic. Just control. At the other end, Mukul Choudhary would take over the finish. But the platform? That was Badoni’s work.

Together, the two half-centuries pulled LSG through to 182/7—sealing a three-wicket win on the final ball in one of the season’s tightest finishes.

Step back, and the numbers underline the consistency. 1029 runs. 59 matches, an average hovering in the mid-20s, not flashy and not headline-chasing. But reliable, repeatable and built over time.

Badoni has quietly grown into LSG’s middle-order spine—the kind of player who doesn’t always dominate the narrative, but shapes it anyway.

Earlier in the night, KKR had done enough—or so it seemed.

And just as the win settled, reality cut back in. Because while one part of LSG’s campaign strengthened, another took a hit. Wanindu Hasaranga is out.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder, signed for ₹2 crore, has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after failing to recover from a left hamstring injury sustained earlier this year.

He never made it to the squad. Now, he won’t.

LSG aren’t waiting around. Director of cricket Tom Moody has confirmed the franchise is already moving on a replacement—likely to be named within 24 to 48 hours.

One name in the mix is George Linde, who is uncapped in the IPL.

It leaves LSG at an interesting intersection. A team riding momentum—fresh off a high-pressure win, powered by emerging names stepping up.

And a squad recalibrating—forced to rethink balance, combinations, and depth without one of their key overseas picks. One night delivered both: A milestone that signals stability and a setback that demands adjustment.

(With inputs from ANI)