Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on November 24 splurged Rs 11.5 crore on England's wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Even at Rs 11.5 crore, many called Salt a steal deal for RCB. A day after, he was dismissed by Pakistan's left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir for a two-ball duck in Abu Dhabi T10 League 2024.
At Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Team Abu Dhabi opener Salt departed without troubling the scorers. He got bowled on the second delivery of the innings after winning the toss and opting to bat first against New York Strikers.
Salt's record for KKR
Salt has been exceptional for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In the previous season before returning for national duty, he scored 435 runs from 12 innings at an verge of 39.54 including four centuries. His strike rate was 182.
KKR engaged in a bidding war with RCB but the latter had enough in the purse to win it.
Salt's T20I record
In T20Is, he has a spectacular record with 1,106 runs from 35 innings at an average of 36.86 including three centuries and four half-centuries. His strike rate is 165.32.
Batting collapse for Team Abu Dhabi
After Salt, another England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow departed. Bairstow got knocked over by Akeal Hosein. Salt's opening partner Michael Pepper got bowled by Khuzaima Tanveer. In the middle overs, Sunil Narine dismissed Laurie Evans and Kadeem Alleyne. Amir returned to struck twice in the eighth over. After Muhammad Irfan and Allah Ghazanfar's wickets, Team Abu Dhabi were 49/7. In the slog overs, Kyle Mayers' 30-ball 38 took Team Abu Dhabi to 73/7.
New York Strikers chased down the target with 10 wickets in hand and 22 balls to spare. Evin Lewis scored 17 runs from 12 balls whereas Kusal Perera smashed four sixes and six fours in his unbeaten 26-ball 56.
