New Delhi: Amid uncertainty over the availiabilty of star opener Phil Salt in the Indian Premier League 2025 final against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) recieved a major update hours before the blockbuster clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Concerns among the RCB fanbase grew after Salt, one of the Challengers’ top performers this season, missed training on the eve of the final. Salt’s absence from the training session indicated the possibility of his unavailability for the high-octane clash between the two teams, who have never won an IPL title before and are gunning for maiden glory.
However, just hours before the final, RCB fans breathed a massive sigh of relief after Hindustan Times reported that Salt, who was not in Ahmedabad on Monday, had returned in the early hours of Tuesday morning to participate in the summit clash.
The report mentions that Salt had flown back home for the birth of his child after leading RCB into the final with a sensational 56-run knock off 27 balls against Shreyas Iyer and co in Qualifier 1. However, he returned in time for the IPL final.
“Salt arrived back late Monday night (Tuesday morning). He has joined the squad ahead of the final and is all set to play,” sources privy to developments told Hindustan Times.
Can Salt finish a good season on a high?
The Englishman, who had joined RCB after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL mega-auction, has been one of the top performers for the Bangalore side in IPL 2025. Opening the batting, Salt has scored 387 runs in 12 innings at an average of 35.18 and a strike rate of 175.90. He has forged a solid opening partnership with Virat Kohli, with the pair consistently providing good starts to RCB and setting the platform for several of their wins this season.
The right-handed batter comes into the final in red-hot form following his match-winning half-century in Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings that helped RCB chase down 102 with eight wickets and 60 balls to spare.
IPL 2025: Concerns among the RCB fanbase grew after opening batter Phil Salt missed training on the eve of the final in Ahmedabad. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
