Pant says it was difficult to fill gaps as a result of injuries when LSG pulled out the IPL play -off game

Lucknow, May 19 (PTI) Captain Rishabh Pant on Monday admitted that it was difficult for his side to fill the void created by the absence of key bowlers, while Lucknow Super Giants bowed out of the race to the Indian Premier League playoffs. LSG’s loss of six wickets to Sunrisers Hyderabad beat them out of the account for a top four-end point here, with the side of the pants that diluted a demanding campaign from their bowling group that was thin. “It certainly could have been one of our best seasons, but when we got into the tournament, we had many gaps, injuries, and as a team we decided not to talk about it, but it became difficult to fill the gaps for us,” Pant told the broadcaster after their loss of SRH here. LSG began the IPL with injuries to Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep and Mayank Yadav. While they signed Shardul Thakur after the start of the season, and the people like Avesh and Akash returned, Mayank could only display in a few games before being excluded due to an injury. “The way we planned the auction would have had the same bowling .. but it’s cricket, sometimes things go your way and sometimes we don’t, we’re proud of the way we played and take the positive out of season as the negative side.” “We have a strong batting line, have enough firepower and it is the biggest positive for the season,” says Pant, who has endured an abomination season as a batter. Pant said LSG found it difficult to keep up with the other teams, as the race is heated to play -off matches. “The first half of the season we played very well, but the second half became harder and harder to catch up with the teams on the brighter side,” he said. “(Digvesh) Rathi has come up nicely for us, his first season, the way he bowled, he is one of the positive, but you must continue to improve yourself and get better and better as the seasons go,” he remembers under the positive. SRH’s victory was drawn up by Indian Opener Abhishek Sharma, who beat six sixes and five fours to make 59 out of just 20 balls. Sharma credited with a clear plan for his success. “Once we beat, I might have had other plans, but that we chased such a total, that we had a clear plan. If you ask a player who is doing well with the team, and chasing 200 plus something, win the PowerPlay. ‘ “I wanted to express myself, and if I do well, I know the team is doing well too. Sharma said it was important to take responsibility as an international player.”