Last Updated: May 22, 2026 02:49 PM
The RCB opener got injured back on April 18. He was trying to save the ball near the boundary during the Delhi match. His finger got hurt pretty badly. He had to fly back to England immediately.
As of now, Phil Salt won’t be playing today. RCB’s star batter has been missing for 7 matches now. He’s still in England getting treatment. RCB officials say he might come back for the playoffs. But definitely not playing today against Sunrisers Hyderabad. That’s pretty clear at this point.
The IPL 2026 Match Details
So here’s the thing about today’s match. Both teams are already in the playoffs. But this match actually matters for their positions. RCB is currently on top with 18 points. SRH is sitting third with 16 points.
RCB needs a win today to stay on top. A big loss would hurt their net run rate badly. SRH has to win by more than 83 runs. Or they can chase RCB’s total in 11 overs. That’s their only way to jump ahead. It’s actually a pretty big deal for both teams.
Phil Salt’s Season Performance
Phil Salt was playing really well before his injury. He scored 202 runs in just 6 matches. His strike rate was really aggressive at 168. The guy hit 2 fifties already this season.
He was important for RCB’s wins. Last year he helped RCB win the whole thing. Now his absence is definitely being felt. The team hasn’t been the same without him.
Jacob Bethell is filling in for Phil Salt right now. He’s another English left-hander. But honestly, he hasn’t done well at all. 7 matches and he only has 96 runs total.
His best score was just twenty-seven. That’s pretty disappointing really. RCB would much rather have Salt back. Bethell is just not matching Salt’s form or consistency. The difference is quite noticeable.
When Will Salt Return?
RCB believes Salt will come back before the playoffs start. The team expects him to rejoin sometime later this week. His injury seems to be healing fine. The medical team in England finished the scans.
For the playoffs though, having Salt fit and ready will be crucial. His experience matters a lot in knockout matches. The team is counting on him for the knockouts. Let’s see if he makes it back in time.
