Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on April 27 without the services of key opener Phil Salt, who remains sidelined due to injury.
Salt missed RCB’s previous fixture against Gujarat Titans on April 24 after sustaining an injury while batting in the nets. The news of his continued unavailability was confirmed by RCB batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik ahead of Monday’s encounter. “Salt is injured for the moment,” Karthik stated plainly at the pre-match press conference, putting an end to speculation surrounding his participation.
Reports suggest the injury is not a serious one, and the team management is being cautious with his recovery. Jacob Bethell, a fellow Englishman, stepped in to replace Salt in the XI against Gujarat Titans, marking his first appearance in the tournament this season.
Salt has been in decent touch in the IPL 2026 Season, accumulating 202 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 168.33, including two fifties and a top score of 78. His absence is a concern for RCB, given his role as a powerplay aggressor who sets the tone from ball one.
Salt had made a significant impact with a 63-run knock in the first meeting between these two sides on April 18, though DC ultimately won that game by six wickets.
RCB currently sit second on the points table with 10 points, while DC are seventh with six points. Despite Salt’s absence, RCB showed they can cope without him, with Virat Kohli’s 81-run knock steering them to victory over Gujarat Titans in their last outing.
