Later this week, Phil Salt will land back in India – good news for Royal Challengers Bengaluru just before the IPL 2026 knockout games. Reports from ESPNCricinfo confirm his comeback is happening after sitting out recent fixtures. A finger issue kept him off the field since the match versus Delhi Capitals. That problem first showed up mid-game during that very contest.
A hit struck Salt during play, out in the field when RCB faced DC on April 18 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. Home he went, needing recovery time plus space away from matches to rest the wound. With him gone, questions remain around whether he’ll stand ready for RCB’s final group clash versus Sunrisers Hyderabad this Friday. Uncertainty lingers; nothing official has surfaced just yet.
Jacob Bethell steps in during Salt’s absence
Seven games now without Salt, RCB handed Jacob Bethell another chance each time. Still, nothing like his spark from the 2026 T20 World Cup shows up on field. Batting alongside Virat Kohli at the start? Ninety-six runs across those outings. His highest knock stayed stuck at twenty-seven. Not quite lighting it up, even after repeated opportunities.
Bethell feels the heat now that Salt might return. Should he miss out again, questions linger regardless. Not even an absence guarantees safety, given how Iyer slammed 73 off just 40 deliveries last time around versus Punjab Kings. He stepped in because Patidar took a nasty hit – a bouncer from Tyagi struck the back of his headgear. That moment opened the door. Now momentum swings toward fresh options.
Out front with the gloves, Jitesh took charge for RCB when they faced PBKS. He said Rajat’s feeling strong these days – maybe ready by the time they head to Hyderabad. That kind of talk hints at a shift in the lineup. Should Patidar come back fit, someone could step aside. Bethell hasn’t hit his stride yet, so chances are things might change without warning.
RCB look for top two
Right now RCB sit first in the standings, playoff spot locked in with just one game left. Thirteen games played, eighteen points earned so far, strong chance they stay among the top two teams. A heavy loss to SRH could shift things slightly – especially if GT also beat Chennai Super Kings by a wide score in their last match. That outcome might push RCB down, though it takes both results happening badly for them. Still, even with danger lurking, ending outside the top two seems unlikely unless everything goes wrong at once.
