RR vs RCB: Phil Salt scripts unwanted history, becomes first cricketer in IPL to do this

RCB's Phil Salt’s ongoing struggles with the bat were further compounded during the IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Facing the very first delivery of the match, Salt fell victim to a fierce, well-directed bouncer from Jofra Archer.

Phil Salt registers unwanted record with golden duck

Attempting to negotiate the extra bounce, the opener played across the line but failed to find any timing. The resulting leading edge looped harmlessly into the air, providing wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel with a routine catch and sending Salt back to the pavilion without scoring.

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Salt now has most first-ball ducks in IPL history

This dismissal etched Salt’s name into the record books for the wrong reasons, as he set a new IPL benchmark for the most first-ball ducks. By falling on the opening delivery of the game for the third time in his career, he became the first batter in the history of the tournament to suffer this specific fate on three separate occasions. This unwanted milestone highlights the immense pressure and high-risk nature of facing the first ball of an innings in the shortest format.

In the broader context of IPL statistics, Salt now sits in a tie for second place for the most dismissals on the first ball of any team innings. He currently shares this position with several other players, while the overall record is still held by former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel, who was dismissed on the opening delivery of an innings four times throughout his career. For Salt, the immediate priority will be finding a way to survive the opening exchange and break his current run of poor form.

Despite the early loss of Phil Salt, Royal Challengers Bengaluru initially appeared to be on track for a formidable total. Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal maintained a high scoring rate, ensuring the scoreboard moved quickly during the opening exchanges. However, the momentum proved short-lived as neither batter managed to convert their aggressive starts into a substantial innings. Padikkal was the first to fall in the third over, contributing 14 runs from seven deliveries, followed by Kohli, who was dismissed after a brisk 32 off 16 balls. The situation worsened immediately following the powerplay when Krunal Pandya was sent back to the dugout for just a single run.

Venkatesh Iyer then cracked a quickfire 15-ball 29 to steer RCB to a big total of 201/8.