Why Phil Salt is Not Playing RCB vs GT Qualifier 1 In Dharamsala?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans are clashing against each other in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, with a direct spot in the final on the line.

RCB entered the playoffs by topping the IPL points table after a strong league campaign, earning 18 points in 14 games. However, the defending champions are set to miss the services of their star opener Phil Salt in IPL qualifier against the Gujarat Titans.

Why Phil Salt Is Not Playing Against GT in Qualifier 1?

The absence of Phil Salt is linked to the finger injury he suffered on April 18 during RCB’s match against Delhi Capitals. The England wicketkeeper-batter damaged his left ring finger while fielding and later travelled back to the United Kingdom for treatment and scans. The injury ruled him out for eight consecutive matches before he finally returned to India and rejoined the RCB camp ahead of the playoffs.

Although Salt, one of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL, resumed training and participated in drills, the RCB management decided not to rush him straight back into the playing XI for Qualifier 1. Captain Rajat Patidar confirmed before the game that Salt was fit but still under medical observation.

However, after the toss, it was confirmed that Salt will miss the RCB vs GT Qualifier 1. As a result, RCB will continue with Venkatesh Iyer as the backup opening partner of Virat Kohli.

Phil Salt's Excellent Form Before Injury

Before getting injured, the England wicketkeeper-batter was enjoying a superb run in IPL 2026. The right-handed opener played six league-stage matches and scored 202 runs at an impressive strike rate of over 168, including two crucial half-centuries for his team.

Following Salt’s injury, RCB handed opportunities to his England teammate Jacob Bethell at the top of the order. However, the left-handed batter failed to make a significant impact during his brief stint with the franchise and was later sidelined due to an injury setback.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru then experimented with another opening combination in their final league-stage fixture, sending Venkatesh Iyer to open alongside Virat Kohli. The left-hander impressed with his aggressive strokeplay and fluent striking, eventually earning the confidence of the team management ahead of the playoffs.