Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik has confirmed that Phil Salt will miss the upcoming clash against Delhi Capitals as he continues to recover from an unspecified injury.
Salt had already sat out RCB’s previous fixture against the Gujarat Titans, and the latest update rules him out of Monday’s game as well. While the franchise has not disclosed the exact nature of the injury, Karthik stated that the opener remains “injured for the moment,” ending speculation around a possible return.
The English batter has been a key part of RCB’s top order this season, tasked with attacking in the Powerplay and allowing Virat Kohli to anchor or accelerate depending on the situation.
Salt’s absence was first revealed during the April 24 match against Gujarat Titans, when captain Rajat Patidar confirmed the injury at the toss. In his place, Jacob Bethell was drafted into the XI to open alongside Kohli.
RCB managed to secure a five-wicket win in that game, with Kohli guiding the chase with an unbeaten 81, while Bethell contributed 14. Despite the victory, Salt’s continued absence raises questions over the stability of RCB’s opening combination heading into a crucial phase of the season.
So far in Indian Premier League 2026, Salt has scored 202 runs in six matches at an average of 33.66 and an impressive strike rate of 168.33, underlining his importance as a Powerplay aggressor.
With RCB looking to maintain momentum, his return timeline will be closely monitored in the coming days.
