Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clearly felt the absence of Phil Salt during their recent IPL 2026 showdown against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. With the regular opener unavailable, the team was forced to adjust their strategy, fielding Jacob Bethell to open the innings alongside Virat Kohli.
Phil Salt to miss DC vs RCB clash: Dinesh Karthik
Ahead of their next high-stakes encounter against the Delhi Capitals on Monday, April 27, RCB’s batting coach and mentor, Dinesh Karthik, provided a crucial update on the squad's status. During a media address, Karthik confirmed that Salt remains sidelined for the upcoming game, which means Bethell is expected to retain his spot in the lineup at the top of the order.
"Salt is injured for the moment and will miss the game v DC," Karthik revealed at the pre-match press conference.
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Phil Salt has been a standout performer for RCB this season, consistently displaying an aggressive intent from the very first ball. Across six matches, he has accumulated 202 runs, including two half-centuries. Given his vital role in the lineup, the team management is prioritizing his recovery, as they are eager to get him back to full fitness and avoid missing him for the remainder of the tournament.
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Lungi Ngidi's injury jolt for DC
Injury concerns are not limited to RCB, as the Delhi Capitals are also dealing with a major scare regarding their fast bowler, Lungi Ngidi. During the match against PBKS, Ngidi suffered a frightening fall, landing awkwardly on his neck. He was immediately rushed to the hospital via a green corridor for urgent care; fortunately, recent reports indicate that he is out of danger and expected to be released soon.
The upcoming clash on Monday serves as a reverse fixture between these two sides. In their previous encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Phil Salt struck a brilliant 63, but it was the Capitals who ultimately secured the victory, thanks to a decisive finishing performance from David Miller. With both teams having significant history this season, anticipation for this rematch is high.
Heading into this encounter, the two sides are coming off very different results. RCB is riding high after a dominant performance against the Gujarat Titans, anchored by another masterclass in a run chase from Virat Kohli, who scored 81. Conversely, the Delhi Capitals are fresh off a challenging defeat against PBKS. Despite an extraordinary, unbeaten 152 from KL Rahul, the Capitals were unable to defend a target of 265, as PBKS managed to pull off the highest successful run chase in IPL and T20 history.