Phil Salt has returned to the United Kingdom for medical scans on the finger problem that has ruled him out of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s most recent three IPL 2026 matches. The latest update also clears the way for Jacob Bethell to continue occupying a top-of-the-order role for the side.
Quick facts
- Phil Salt is in the UK for scans on a finger injury and has missed RCB’s last three matches in IPL 2026.
- RCB have not publicly detailed the injury, but it is understood Salt hurt a finger while saving a boundary during their home loss to Delhi Capitals.
- Jacob Bethell is expected to keep opening alongside Virat Kohli.
- Salt is centrally contracted by the ECB and returned home at England management’s request.
- RCB could, in theory, sign a replacement if the injury is judged season-ending, but recovery is the likely priority.
RCB have not described the exact nature of Salt’s ailment in public. However, the injury is reported to have occurred when he damaged a finger on his left hand while diving to stop a boundary at deep backward square leg in the sixth over of the second innings during RCB’s defeat at home to Delhi Capitals on April 18.
Salt had started the IPL season in strong fashion, compiling 202 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 168.33 before the incident sidelined him. His return timeline now depends on how quickly the finger settles following the scans.
Salt, who remains centrally contracted with the ECB, has gone back to England on the instruction of the England set-up. The player and the franchise are both hopeful that the injury will heal soon enough for him to travel back to India later this month, as RCB look to defend the title they won for the first time last season.
Bethell gets continued opening chances
With Salt unavailable, Bethell—Salt’s international teammate—has been given the responsibility of opening the batting alongside Virat Kohli. The move comes after Bethell began the campaign from the bench, and while he has not yet produced a major haul (39 runs across three innings), the door is now more firmly open at the top.
Jordan Cox, another English batter in RCB’s squad, is also available as a spare option. With Salt’s absence stretching to multiple games, RCB appear ready to keep their batting structure stable while continuing to evaluate their best fit for the opening slots.
Under IPL rules, RCB would be allowed to bring in a replacement if Salt’s injury is classified as season-ending. Even so, the expectation is that the franchise will give him the maximum time and support needed to recover rather than immediately searching for a like-for-like replacement.
The timing is particularly tough for Salt. He has previously praised the team culture at RCB under Mo Bobat (director of cricket), Andy Flower (head coach), and Dinesh Karthik (batting coach/mentor), and he had recently rediscovered his rhythm in the IPL after a difficult T20 World Cup run with England.
Meanwhile, RCB are working through a six-day break between fixtures after their loss to Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad last Thursday. Several members of the squad reportedly travelled to the Maldives following that defeat for a mid-season reset ahead of their next match against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday night.
