- Phil Salt set to return to RCB later this week.
- Salt may not feature against SRH on Friday.
- Salt’s return will boost RCB’s title hopes this season.
Phil Salt is all set to return to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru set up this week, according to reports. The 29-year-old has been out of action for a month after injuring his finger earlier in the ongoing IPL season.
Salt flew back to England after suffering a finger injury while fielding in RCB’s match against Delhi Capitals on April 18, opting to spend time with his family while recovering from the injury. In his absence, however, RCB have all but secured a qualifier 1 spot ahead of the IPL 2026 playoffs.
Phil Salt crucial to RCB title hopes
That isn’t to say that Phil Salt wasn’t missed by his team during his time away. Salt’s deputy Jacob Bethell has struggled to get going in his compatriot’s absence. His poor run of form has seen Bethell score just 96 runs in seven innings, top-scoring with 27 against the Mumbai Indians.
While Bethell’s ability is beyond question, Salt’s recent form suggests his return would boost Bengaluru’s championship aspirations. Before his injury, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 202 runs in his six innings at the top of the order. These numbers include two crucial fifties, one of which was a Player-of-the-Match performance against the Mumbai Indians.
Salt’s runs have also come at a strike rate of 168.3, over 43 runs more than Bethell for every 100 balls faced.
Whether Salt plays RCB’s final league phase game against SRH on Friday remains to be seen, however. With a playoff place in the bag, and top two almost secured, RCB may not risk playing Salt too early.
RCB’s run-in
Even in Phil Salt’s absence, the Bengaluru side have been close to their best in recent games. After a two-game blip, they recorded three wins on the trot to reaffirm themselves as favourites to take top spot on the table.
Captain Rajat Patidar had to sit out their game against PBKS thanks to a blow to the head against KKR. Even that could not deter them, however. Patidar’s domestic teammate Venkatesh Iyer scored an unbeaten 73 as RCB beat PBKS by 23 runs.
Now, with just one game left in the league phase, a win against SRH in Hyderabad will be exactly what RCB need ahead of the playoffs.
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