As the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) prepare to face Punjab Kings (PBK) in the IPL 2025 final on June 3, an important question hangs on the head of fans and analysts: Will Phil Salt play today? The starter has been fundamental for the success of RCB this season, but its absence of the team’s final training session has revived doubts about its availability.
Why the availability of Phil Salt is not clear
Phil Salt was not seen in the RCB training session on June 2 according to Espncricinfo, the eve of the final in Ahmedabad. While it is not uncommon for older players to skip optional sessions, the absence is remarkable because:
Salt had previously lost two league games due to a disease that awaits the birth of his first child soon, RCB chief coach Andy Flower, is known for maintaining the injuries and decisions of the players secretly to avoid giving the rivals an advantage
The salt was not seen on the ground during the team’s preparations, which raises the possibility that he has flown home to be with his family. However, from now on, RCB has not made an official confirmation.
Salt season performance: among the best in IPL 2025
The salt has been one of the most explosive openers in IPL 2025. Its aggressive batting has perfectly complemented the measured approach of Kohli virat.
Phil Salt IPL 2025 statistics:
Run: 387 Attack rate: 175.9 Average: 35.92 fifty scores: 4 Sixes: 21
Among the openers who have played at least eight games this season, only Abhishek Sharma and Priyansh Arya have obtained at a faster rate than salt. Its impact is best reflected in the 10.29 races according to RCB averages in opening associations, a league metric.
Recent history: Phil Salt played in qualifier 1
Despite the previous uncertainty about its availability due to a fever and family obligations, Salt returned for the qualifying crash 1 against PBK, reinforcing the higher order of RCB.
His presence helped RCB to offer a dominant performance in that game, and fans hoped would continue in the final. However, his absence of final training has questioned his status.
Reasons for salt to lose the final?
There are two probable scenarios:
Personal license: salt may have returned home for the birth of your child. RCB has not confirmed this, but experts suggest that this is a great possibility. Strategic concealment: RCB could deliberately maintain the hidden Salt state, since it is known that chief coach Andy Flower causes injured players to heal before the games to deceive the opposition.
Given how crucial the salt with its plans is, the franchise can delay the announcement until the launch time.
Verify the final IPL bets: the best bets and predictions | RCB vs Pbks for June 3, 2025
Who could replace Phil Salt if he loses the final?
If the salt is not available, RCB has two main options:
1. Tim seifert
Recently signed as a New Zealand Wicktkeeper-Bater backup that will probably open with Virat Kohli
2. Mayank Agarwal
It can be opened if Seifert does not prefer a solid national player with experience in IPL
This would also cause reorganization in the batting order, probably moving Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma for a slot, while Tim David, if available, or Liam Livingstone and Romario Shepherd handle the late average order.
Possible XI of RCB with and without salt
If the salt plays:
Virat Kohli Phil Salt Mayank Agarwal Rajat Patidar (C) JITESH SHARMA (WK) Tim David Romario Shepherd Krunal Pandya Josh Hazlewod Bhuvneshwar Kumar Yash Dayal (Ipact: Suash Sharmact: Suyash Sha
If salt is not available:
Virat Kohli Tim Seifert Mayank Agarwal Rajat Patidar (C) JITESH SHARMA (WK) Tim David Romario Pastor Krunal Pandya Josh Hazlewood Bhuvneshwar Kumar Yash Dia Day
Also read:
Final verdict: Will Phil Salt play IPL 2025 final?
As of June 2:
Salt was absent from the training that RCB has not issued a statement that coach Andy Flower is known for retaining changes in the last minute team
Given these signs, Salt’s availability is still uncertain, and fans must wait for clarity only in the launch time. If he plays, it could be an inclusion defined by the game for RCB, since they pursue their first IPL title.
To get more updates, follow Cricxtey on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.