Sunday’s IPL 2026 match saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru edge past Mumbai Indians by 18 runs, a game where opener Phil Salt struck form in dramatic fashion. Not long after collecting the Player of the Match honour, Salt spoke about keeping his mind steady, even when moments feel electric. Though results swing wildly in T20 cricket, it’s handling those swings – good and bad – that shapes what happens later. His chat during the awards moment revealed little obsession with outcomes, more with presence. Big scores come and go; balance stays longer than fireworks. Success isn’t built on single flashes but how one rides each wave without tipping over. Even when bat meets ball just right, thoughts must stay grounded, almost quiet. The win mattered less than the rhythm kept between overs, between deliveries. Highs demand calm just like slumps do. Salt left the stage still thinking not about applause, but breath, reset, repeat.
“Honestly, I’ve got no idea myself. There are a few highs and a lot of lows, and you can’t ride both of them. Just stay as even as you can, and I’m just pleased I could come out and put a performance in for the lads,” Salt said.
That kind of play really heats up when conditions favor batters, he pointed out. Staying on the front foot keeps the other team reacting, never comfortable. Momentum shifts come easier that way, especially if the pitch plays soft underfoot.
True, I’d agree. With pitches like these, they don’t always help the bowlers much – still, push hard against the other side. Yet hold on to what makes you strong. Winning moments come from using your edge, right? Most games won’t have me scoring runs – that kind of consistency isn’t real. Still, staying influential each time out means I’m moving where I should.
Still, Salt gave credit to RCB’s batters for their strong showing – yet pointed out gaps remained even after the team set a high score
“Really well. And to be honest, we probably had a few more in the tank. I think, you know, in the second ten of our innings, they actually shut us down quite nicely at times. So, you know, promising signs for us as a batting unit. I think they bowled well then,” he said.
Out of nowhere, RCB posted big numbers on the board thanks to sharp strokeplay under pressure. A flurry of boundaries lit up the Wankhede as their batters refused to back down. When the roles reversed, clever changes in pace rattled MI early. Crucial wickets fell just when momentum could have shifted. With each over bowled tight, the target stayed out of reach. In the end, 18 runs made the difference after a game that never slowed. Power hitting met precision, yet calm heads won it.
Chasing runs, RCB built an almost flawless total – 240 for 4 – thanks to blistering hitting early on. Phil Salt raced to 78 from just 36 deliveries, while Virat Kohli chipped in with a steady 50 off 38. Captain Rajat Patidar then lit up the middle overs, smashing 53 in only 20 balls. Later, Tim David added spark, hammering 34 from 16 as momentum held firm.
Out of nowhere, RCB exploded into life as Salt and Kohli tore through the early overs, standing at 71 without loss after six. A sudden flurry came when Salt unleashed on Mitchell Santner, clearing boundaries repeatedly to rack up 22 in one over alone, reaching fifty in only 25 deliveries. Together they carved out 120 runs before ten and a half had passed, their stand forming the backbone of what looked like a huge score ahead.
Once Salt was out, Patidar struck back hard, smashing fifty off 17 balls while linking sharply with Kohli for a brisk 65-run partnership. Inside twelve overs and one ball, RCB passed 150; by the seventeenth over they hit 200, never slowing their pace. Though MI managed wickets here and there, their bowlers could not stop the steady stream of boundaries. Down the stretch, David chipped in fast runs, lifting RCB to a total of 240 for four.
Off the mark, Mumbai Indians charged hard after needing 241, Rohit Sharma alongside Ryan Rickelton smashing 62 without loss during the power play. Then again, a tight pull while running saw Rohit clutch his leg – soon he was gone, leaving the innings wobbling.
Out of nowhere, Suyash Sharma rattled RCB’s chase by taking two quick wickets – Rickelton on 37, then Tilak Varma for just one – in a single over. Just when it seemed balanced, Mumbai Indians found themselves at 99 for 2 after ten, still breathing but feeling the squeeze as the target climbed.
Bumps came thick and fast when Krunal Pandya sent Suryakumar Yadav packing on 33. Not long after, Jacob Duffy broke through by removing captain Hardik Pandya for 40, ending a fiery burst that had sparked hope. Then, out of nowhere, Rasikh Salam Dar struck again, this time getting rid of Naman Dhir. Suddenly, MI found themselves teetering at 154 for 5.
Falling apart early, still Rutherford lifted Mumbai’s hopes – his 71 not out from 31 deliveries laced with nine towering sixes. Yet the total slipped through their fingers; 222 for five after twenty overs wasn’t quite enough.
Fresh off the mark, Suyash Sharma claimed a pair of key dismissals for RCB. His spell stood out amid the evening’s bowling efforts.
