Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered a major setback after their explosive English opener Phil Salt injured his finger and is returning home for scans. Amid this setback, RCB is expected to explore options to bring in an injury replacement for Salt only if he is ruled out of the IPL.
To replace him, three names have emerged who could be a like-for-like replacement for Salt. Read on to find out who can replace Salt, although his compatriot Jacob Bethell has already replaced him in RCB's XI in the last three games.
What happened to Salt?
The 29-year-old opener suffered an injury to his left hand finger while fielding during RCB's game against the Delhi Capitals on April 18 and has not played a single game since. Salt played six games this season and scored 202 runs at an average of 33.67 while striking the ball at 168.
Phil Salt had scored two half-centuries in the last three games and was looking in great touch, and his fielding also brought a difference between RCB and their opponents.
Potential Options for RCB as Salt's replacement
RCB might sign a replacement for Salt, and here are some of the best options. Bengaluru has:
Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow's fellow countryman is one of the most experienced batters in this list, having already played 52 matches in the IPL, scoring 1674 runs with nine fifties and two centuries, averaging 35 while boasting a strike rate of 146.
Bairstow has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2019 to 2021, Punjab Kings from 2022 to 2024, and Mumbai Indians in 2025, where he was brought in as an injury replacement for Will Jacks.
Jake Fraser-McGurk
The 24-year-old Aussie wicketkeeper batsman is another name popping up who could replace Phil Salt in RCB. McGurk has played 15 matches in the IPL, scoring 385 runs at an average of 25.67 and a strike rate of 199. He played for the Delhi Capitals in 2024 and 2025.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Former KKR wicketkeeper is the third batsman in the list who played some handy knocks for Kolkata and might be another name RCB can rope in. In a 19-match-long IPL career, Gurbaz has scored 363 runs while averaging 21.35 and having a strike rate of 135. He featured in three IPL seasons, all of them being for Kolkata Knight Riders.