Overseas RCB star to not feature in IPL 2025 final against PBKS? Report makes massive claim

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be facing off against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the much-anticipated IPL 2025 final that is set to be played at the Narendra Modi stadium on June 3. This will be one of the biggest matches in the history of both the IPL franchises as both are yet to register their first IPL triumph.

Phil Salt is expecting the birth of his first child

However, RCB may have been given a big blow even before the commencement of the match as according to a report by ESPNcricinfo, star batter Phil Salt is unlikely to feature in the clash against PBKS. This is due to the fact that the Englishman is expecting the birth of his first child and thus, may fly back to his country.

The 28-year-old was nowhere to be seen in RCB's final trianing session before the penultimate match of the season. The report further stated that Salt might not even be in Ahmedabad during the time of the summit clash. However, both head coach Andy Flower and skipper Rajat Patidar haven't said a single word about Salt's availability and there is no clarity as to if the explosive batter will participate in the match or not.

Apart from Salt, there is another overseas RCB star who may not participate in the final against PBKS and it is Australia's Tim David. The batter suffered a hamstring injury in the league stage clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad while fielding on the boundary rope and is unlikely to recover and make it to the playing XI for the final.  

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Both Salt and David played key roles in RCB's qualification to the playoffs and the former even played a decisive knock of 56 runs in the first qualifier against PBKS to carry the Bengaluru-based franchise to their fourth IPL final. 

Salt has scored 387 runs in 12 matches this season, striking the ball at an impressive rate of 175.90. On the other hand, David has played several important knocks while batting in the lower-middle order and has accumulated a total of 187 runs in 12 matches, maintaining an explosive strike-rate of 185.14.

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In their place, RCB's best option will be to go with hard-hitting New Zealand batter Tim Seifert and India veteran Mayank Agarwal. The latter might be seen opening the innings for RCB alongside Virat Kohli while the former may bat in the middle-order.