Royal Challengers Bengaluru are waiting on news about Phil Salt after the England wicketkeeper-batter returned home for scans on a finger injury.
Reports say he made the trip at the request of ECB medical staff so that the injury could be examined in detail. Both Salt and the franchise are hopeful it is not serious and that he could rejoin the squad later this month if his recovery goes to plan.
A key figure at the top
Salt has been central to RCB’s batting at the top of the order this season, with 202 runs in six innings, including two half-centuries, at a strike rate of 168.33. One of his best knocks was a match-winning 78 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
He was also important in RCB’s title-winning 2025 campaign, when he scored 403 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 175.98 as the franchise finally won its first IPL trophy.
Bethell’s struggles and the schedule
While Salt has been away, young England batter Jacob Bethell has been given chances at the top but has made only 39 runs in three innings.
RCB are currently taking a short break after their April 30 defeat to Gujarat Titans and have travelled to the Maldives for recovery and team bonding. Their next match is against Lucknow Super Giants on May 7 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
