All the pieces of the puzzle fell in place for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on the night of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final. Ahead of the all-important final there were reports that Phil Salt will be unavailable for the clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) as he has gone back home for the birth of his child. However, as Sports Tak reported Salt joined the RCB camp on the final's morning. In the final, he departed after scoring 16 runs from nine balls but took the crucial catch of opener Priyansh Arya on the boundary. After the IPL 2025 triumph, Virat Kohli thanked his opening partner and had a cheeky message for him as well.
"Well done partner. Now go back to the real stuff and get ready for changing diapers," Kohli wrote on Instagram story expressing his gratitude for the English opener.
What Salt said after IPL 2025 final win?
After the final, broadcaster and former Australian opener Matthew Hayden talked to Salt. The Englishman was 'over the moon' and thanked the fans for backing the franchise.
"It’s an unbelievable feeling right now. I don’t quite know where I am at the minute, I haven’t had much sleep. I’ve got a lucky charm now (on his newborn child), feeling over the moon. Everywhere we go we’re the best supported team. The fanbase is ridiculous, we absolutely love them. Thanks for supporting, thanks for coming out in numbers, we were behind the eight-ball to start but we saw the roar of the crowd, you’ve won more games for us than you think," Salt said.
Salt's maiden RCB season
Salt was RCB's second-most expensive buy at the auction. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener was roped in for Rs 11.50 crore. He repaid the franchise's faith multifold. Despite missing a few games, he scored 403 runs from 13 innings at an average of 33.58. He scored five half-centuries. He was responsible for a few blazing starts as he scored at a strike rate of 175.98. He ended the season as RCB's second-highest run-scorer, behind Kohli (657 runs).