Phil Salt: The RCB Game-Changer Who Turned a Slow Start into IPL Glory

From smashing a 25-ball 50 on debut to pulling off the catch of the final, Salt proved he’s the missing piece RCB’s “slow start” puzzle.

Phil Salt’s win wasn’t just about runs—it was about presence, power, and poise under pressure.

In 2025, Salt delivered all three. Follow BRG365 for more top player profiles.

A Season of Explosive Firsts

When RCB splashed 11.5 crore on Salt ahead of the season, critics raised an eyebrow: Could the Englishman, fresh off a middling Hundred campaign, handle the pressure of opening for a team starved of titles since 2016?

He answered with a statement as bold as his neon kit: 25 balls, 50 runs, 200+ strike rate in his first game against MI. 

That innings wasn’t just runs—it was a revolution. In the first 6 overs, Salt didn’t just face the new ball; he attacked it like a kid let loose in a candy store, lacing 7 fours and a six through the covers and over mid-wicket.

RCB’s historically shaky Powerplay, averaging 42.3 runs in the first 6 overs in 2024, suddenly became a juggernaut, racking up 61.8 runs on average in 2025, the best in the league.

Salt’s Season Stats 

Salt’s incredible strike rate of 176.23 wasn’t just padding, it was game-changing.

In a league where a sluggish start can lose you the match, Salt routinely gave RCB head starts of 50+ in the powerplay.

His 25-ball 50 on debut set the tone. And even in games where he didn’t score big, his intent forced bowlers to alter plans and opened doors for others.

Powerplay Dominance

Historically, RCB struggled with “slow starts,” relying too much on big finishing knocks.

But Salt rewrote that script. His average powerplay contribution of 25+ runs at nearly 200 SR changed RCB's run curves.

Teams no longer waited for Kohli to anchor—it was Salt who fired the first bullet.

That impact extended beyond the runs. Bowlers bowled defensive lines early, which in turn gave players like Glenn Maxwell and Tim David more freedom in the middle and death overs.

Salt wasn’t just scoring, he was also reshaping game rhythms.

Read More: RCB’s First IPL Title: The One Player Who Helped It Happen—Krunal Pandya

The Catch That Flipped Final

In the final, PBKS were off to a strong start at 40/0 chasing 191. Priyansh Arya was looking dangerous with 24 off 19 balls. 

Then came the turning point. Josh Hazlewood bowled short, and Arya pulled—straight to Phil Salt at deep square leg.

Salt sprinted and caught the ball on the run, but his momentum took him toward the boundary.

In a split-second move, he tossed the ball in the air, stepped over the rope, came back in, and completed the catch calmly.

The crowd of over 90,000 went wild. Sunil Gavaskar called it “not just athleticism—it’s genius.”

After Arya’s dismissal, PBKS’ run rate dropped sharply and never recovered.

Salt pulled off this moment on just three hours of sleep after flying in from England. “I was running on adrenaline and coffee,” he said. “But once the ball goes up, everything else fades.”

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Perfect Opening Balance

One of the underrated reasons behind RCB’s strong starts this season was the chemistry between Phil Salt and Virat Kohli at the top. 

Salt brought the aggression from ball one, while Kohli played the anchor, finding gaps and keeping things steady.

The result? RCB often reached 60 or 70 by the end of the seventh over.

What made this partnership so valuable wasn’t just the runs—it was the way it eased the burden on Kohli.

With Salt taking on the high-risk shots, Kohli had more freedom to pace his innings and focus on batting deep.

For a team that’s often been too dependent on Kohli, this balance felt like a breath of fresh air.

Read More: Virat Kohli's RCB FINALLY! 18-Year IPL Drought Ends with 6 Run Win

Running on Empty, Still Delivering

Here’s something not everyone noticed: Phil Salt was running on very little sleep in the final.

Fresh off a long flight, dealing with jet lag, and with barely any recovery time, most players would’ve been forgiven for having a quiet game.

But Salt still turned up—hitting a quick 16 off 9 balls and pulling off that game-changing boundary catch.

That takes serious mental strength. It’s one thing to perform when you're fully fit and rested.

But to come through under those circumstances, in the biggest match of the season, with nearly 91,000 fans watching? That’s the mark of a true pro.

Legacy and What’s Next

RCB’s long-awaited trophy will go down in IPL history, but what makes it even sweeter is how new pieces like Phil Salt were at the heart of it.

He wasn’t part of legacy teams. He wasn’t weighed down by past failures.

He just played the kind of cricket fans dream about.

Whether Salt returns next season or not, his standings is already legendary.

It’s the kind of season fans will talk about years from now—where an overseas star came in, made believers out of doubters, and delivered in every department.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Final: Phil Salt’s gravity-defying catch turns the tide for RCB - watch