With Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) preparing for their maiden attempt at the IPL trophy, a likely last-minute punch threatens to disrupt their plans. Star opener Phil Salt, who has been the cornerstone of RCB’s 2025 campaign so far, could be absent from the highly anticipated final against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Salt’s availability is in jeopardy due to personal reasons, a report on ESPNcricinfo has said. The English wicket-keeper batter is said to be expecting a child and may already have returned from India to be with his partner. Coincidentally, Salt did not attend RCB’s eve-of-grand-finale training session at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, fueling speculation about his availability.
Will Phil Salt Play?
Neither head coach Andy Flower nor captain Rajat Patidar spoke on the absence of Salt during pre-final interactions, keeping total silence on the matter. Mind game specialist Flower has set many such tactics in motion earlier, from pitting injured players in warm-up sessions to create confusion among opponents. This time around, his silence could be another game plan or an expression of real worry.
Interestingly, Salt was not the only player who was absent from the training session, with a few others also skipping out, creating the picture even more opaque.
Salt’s Absence Would Be A Massive Blow
Phil Salt has been among RCB’s best performers this season, hitting 387 runs in 12 games with a prodigious strike rate of 175.90 and an average of 35.18. His aggressive batting at the top has been pivotal in RCB’s run to the final, and his possible absence can upset the team’s momentum.
To add to the complexity, Jacob Bethell has already gone back to England for international commitments. If Salt is found out of the picture, RCB will then have to rearrange their opening pair. Tim Seifert and Mayank Agarwal are the options for that. Both might join Virat Kohli at the top of the order.
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Crunch Time For RCB
With the franchise only one victory short of ending their title drought, the uncertainty over Salt’s availability is far from desirable. Whether through a tactical smokescreen or actual setback, fans and pundits will be keeping a close watch when playing XIs are announced prior to the final.
