At a glance:
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain among the top playoff contenders despite back-to-back defeats.
- Phil Salt has re-joined the squad after recovering from a finger injury suffered against Delhi Capitals.
- Salt scored 202 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 168.33 before his injury setback.
Despite recent back-to-back losses, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is still in a solid position in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The Rajat Patidar-led team is still among the top contenders for the playoffs after demonstrating consistency throughout the competition.
RCB has been pleased with its well-rounded bowling and batting performances. At the top, Virat Kohli has maintained his excellent form, while Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling attack has made significant progress under pressure. According to reports, Phil Salt, who missed a few games due to injury, has joined the side for the remaining games.
Phil Salt, an England batsman and wicketkeeper, flew back to the UK for a finger injury scan before returning to India. During RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals, Salt sustained the injury while fielding.
Prior to the incident, Salt was in great shape. With an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 168.33, the aggressive opener amassed 202 runs in six innings. His comeback may help RCB’s early worries.
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Jacob Bethell Gets Chance in RCB Team
RCB replaced Salt in the starting lineup with Jacob Bethell, who managed only 43 runs across four matches. Jitesh Sharma has also struggled badly this season with just 64 runs in eight innings.
Salt, meanwhile, has played a crucial role at the top of the order, giving Bengaluru explosive starts and putting opposition bowlers under immediate pressure during the powerplay. His absence has not only weakened the batting lineup but also reduced the energy and balance RCB relied on throughout their title winning campaign.
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RCB Crushes MI Hope for Playoffs
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-around heroics (4/23, 7 not out) and Krunal Pandya’s tough 73 helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by two wickets on Sunday in Raipur, eliminating the Mumbai Indians from the IPL playoff chase.
With 14 points from 11 games, the victory sent RCB to the top of the Indian Premier League standings. Fortunes fluctuated in this low-scoring attritional match, but RCB crossed the finish line with two runs.
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