England opener Phil Salt has revealed his experience playing under Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Phil Salt said he had a positive experience despite the overseas players being frustrated with Chandrakant Pandit’s militant coaching style.
Phil Salt had a standout season as an opener for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024. The right-handed batsman provided the team with quick starts alongside Sunil Narine at the top of the order. Salt and Narine played a crucial role in the Knight Riders’ third title win in the Indian Premier League.
Salt and Sunil Narine’s partnership allowed the middle and lower order to cash in. Salt missed the latter part of the IPL 2024 due to his international obligations. The opening batsman scored 435 runs in 12 games at an average of 39.55 and a strike rate of 182. He hit four fifties with a best score of 89 unbeaten runs.
Not my personal experience – Phil Salt
Some overseas players expressed their frustration with Chandrakant Pandit’s militant style of operation during IPL 2024. However, Phil Salt had a contrasting experience with Pandit. Salt praised Pandit for his excellent coaching skills and added that they still stay in touch.
“It’s not my personal experience. I can say that we understood each other from day one. No, he’s a man who reads the environment very well. He knows when to put his arm around you, he knows when to pull your tail a little bit. I think that’s a trait that all good coaches have now. I have a great relationship with him and we still exchange text messages. He watches a lot of cricket. He’s always in touch, so he’s a great man,” Salt said during the CEAT Cricketing Rating Awards.
I was disappointed that I had come this far – Phil Salt
Phil Salt is disappointed to leave the Kolkata Knight Riders camp midway through IPL 2024. The 27-year-old batsman felt that his job was not done. He wanted to be involved in every game and key moment. Salt acknowledged that the team deserved to become champions in the IPL 2024 season.
“I think if you put in the effort in a competition, especially in the IPL, you want to play every game, that’s what’s in you as a professional sportsman. I want to play the big games. I want to play all the high-pressure games and be in the high-pressure moments. That’s what it’s all about, you know. Obviously, I was disappointed to come this far and leave India feeling like I still had a job to do. But the boys picked up beautifully from where we left off and became deserving IPL champions,” Salt added.
England recalled Phil Salt for the series against Pakistan during the final stages of IPL 2024. Afghan wicketkeeper-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz replaced him in the KKR playing XI. The Shreyas Iyer-led side defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Salt will play for England in the upcoming white-ball series at home against Australia in September. The two teams will compete in three T20 internationals and five ODI matches, from September 11 to 29.
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