Ahmedabad: England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt was left out of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru playing XI for the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans despite recovering from injury. Salt, who had been sidelined with a finger injury for several weeks, was available for selection ahead of the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium. However, RCB opted to retain the same team combination that helped them reach the final. RCB captain Rajat Patidar had earlier indicated that Salt had resumed training and was medically fit. Nevertheless, the franchise chose not to disrupt the opening partnership that had performed strongly during his absence.
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Salt suffered the injury during a league-stage match against Delhi Capitals in April while attempting to stop a boundary. He returned to England for scans and rehabilitation before rejoining the RCB squad ahead of the playoffs. The explosive opener scored 202 runs in six matches this season at a strike rate of over 168 before being ruled out. His aggressive starts alongside Virat Kohli played a key role in RCB’s campaign.
Ahead of the final, reports suggested Salt was present with the squad but was not fully involved in warm-up drills, further indicating that RCB management preferred continuity in the playing XI. As RCB chase a second consecutive IPL title, the decision reflects the team management’s confidence in their settled combination despite having a fit Salt available on the bench.
