IPL 2026: Phil Salt available for the RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 match? Here’s the update

The defending IPL champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are now just two wins away from defending their title. Displaying champions-calibre cricket throughout the IPL 2026 league stage, the team finished at the top of the points table, where they are set to face GT. However, RCB has faced only one major hurdle in this IPL season: Phil Salt's injury. Yet, thanks to the magnificent form of the other players, this setback has not significantly impacted the team's performance thus far. 

After playing the first six matches, Phil Salt returned to the UK due to a finger injury, where he underwent treatment. He sustained the injury during the match played against the Delhi Capitals on April 18. Following this, RCB experimented with Jacob Bethell and Venkatesh Iyer in the opening slot. According to some reports, Salt could once again be included in the Playing XI for Qualifier 1. Providing an update on his availability, Captain Rajat Patidar stated that Salt has resumed training, and a decision regarding his participation will be taken by the management shortly.

“Salt is fit. He is under observation by the doctor. He has been participating in a few drills but we haven’t decided on our playing eleven yet. We will look at the wicket and decide,” Patidar said. 

Phil Salt scored a total of 202 runs across the first six matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 33.66, a tally that includes two half-centuries. If he is deemed fully fit for the match, there should be no doubt that he will be drafted straight into the Playing XI. In such a scenario, Venkatesh Iyer could find himself left out of the Playing XI, or alternatively, he might be utilised in the middle order. Phil Salt is also a wicketkeeper-batter and could potentially replace Jitesh Sharma—who has been struggling with poor form—though, given Salt's finger injury, it is highly unlikely that RCB would want to entrust him with that responsibility.

In the last couple of games, Venkatesh Iyer has been playing brilliantly, scoring 158 runs in 4 innings, including a half-century. In such conditions, dropping Venky will be a tough decision.