One of the best buys for RCB this season has to be that of England opener Phil Salt, with a price tag of 11.50 Cr, at the IPL Auction. The 28-year-old has played 38 T20Is for his nation and slammed 3 tons already, at an average of 36 and a strike-rate of 165. IN IPL 2024, for KKR this year he played 12 matches and scored 435 runs, at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 182, with four fifties.
Phil Salt & Virat Kohli to Open?
But these are only one aspect of the stats, that is visible to the fans. And that is not how franchises make any decision. They obviously dig deeper to make sharper calls, that can make or break their season. In a latest video, RCB batting coach could be seen discussing Salt’s numbers in the first few overs of the innings, that left him bewildered.
Dinesh Karthik says, “Phil Salt, 28% of the times gets 6-8 runs/over, and 30% of the times gets 12-15/over. So, one in four overs, he will hit 16 plus. Are you serious? One in two overs, he goes 12 runs or plus. How is that physically even possible?”
The video gives enough evidence that Salt will open the innings for RCB with Virat Kohli. And the latter, in all likelihood, will return as the skipper of the side. Besides these two. there will be Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma in the middle-order, who could just destroy the opposition bowling attacks. Not to forget the likes of Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal and Krunal Pandya, who could be equally severe.
RCB Squad for IPL 2025
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone (Rs. 8.75 crore), Phil Salt (Rs. 11.50 crore), Jitesh Sharma (Rs. 11 crore), Josh Hazlewood (Rs. 12.50 crore), Rasikh Dar (Rs. 6 crore), Suyash Sharma (Rs. 2.60 crore), Krunal Pandya (Rs. 5.75 crore), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs. 10.75 crore), Swapnil Singh (Rs. 50 lakh), Tim David (Rs. 3 crore), Romario Shepherd (Rs. 1.50 crore), Nuwan Thushara (Rs. 1.60 crore), Manoj Bhandage (Rs. 30 lakh), Jacob Bethell (Rs. 2.60 crore), Devdutt Padikkal (Rs. 2 crore), Swastik Chhikara (Rs. 30 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (Rs. 1 crore), Abhinandan Singh (Rs. 30 lakh), Mohit Rathee (Rs. 30 lakh).
Editor's Pick
Cricket
KL Rahul rested from IND vs ENG ODIs after BCCI assures keeper of ICC Champions Trophy spot: Reports
Top Stories
