New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli got their team off to a flying start in the 175-run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, March 22. Salt took the aggressive route from the word go as he went after the KKR bowlers in the Powerplay.
The England wicket-keeper batter slammed his maiden half-century for RCB on his IPL debut for his new franchise with a cracking knock of 56 runs off 31 balls. Salt took KKR spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to the cleaners early in RCB’s run-chase as he went berserk against him in the 4th over of RCB’s innings. Salt slammed three fours and a six in 4 balls to take 21 runs off Chakaravarthy’s first over in the game.
Salt and Kohli were going strong having added 37 runs for the first wicket when Chakaravarthy came to bowl his first in the 4th over of RCB’s chase. Kohli took a single off the first ball to give the strike to Salt, who launched a brutal assault against the mystery spinner. Salt started with a couple before smashing a four-over long-off.
He dispatched an overpitched delivery from the spinner next for a six before hitting two more boundaries in the next two balls to get 21 runs from the over. The expectations were high from Chakaravarthy, who played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 triumph earlier this month. However, Salt made a mockery of his bowling in his very first over in the first game of IPL 2025.
Watch Phil Salt’s incredible assault against Varun Chakaravarthy in IPL 2025:
4-6-4-4 from salt to varun 🔥 🔥 https://t.co/zwvsuN89IW
— ` (@Here4kohli18_) March 22, 2025
Phil Salt shines on his RCB debut
Salt shone on his debut for RCB against his former team KKR in the IPL 2025 on Saturday. Opening the batting with Kohli, Salt gave RCB the kind of a start they would have liked in the 175-run chase. Salt hit the ground running from the word go and continued in his usual aggressive manner to hit a flurry of boundaries and help his team dominate in the Powerplay.
Thanks to Salt’s exploits, RCB smashed 80 runs in the Powerplay to set the stage for a comfortable chase at the Eden Gardens. Salt finished with 56 off 31 balls laced with 9 fours and two sixes and would be hoping RCB can capitalise on the good start to wrap up a victory in their opening game of the season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opener Phil Salt went berserk in the Powerplay as he took Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to the cleaners in the IPL 2025 on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
