Where is Phil Salt? RCB's star opener has left India and here's the massive update

As per the latest cricket news, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have confirmed that Phil Salt has returned to England for scans on the finger injury that has sidelined him for the last three matches, adding an unwanted layer of uncertainty to a franchise otherwise in good shape ahead of the business end of the tournament.

How it happened with Phil Salt and what comes next for RCB

RCB have not publicly revealed the full nature of the injury, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that Salt damaged a finger on his left hand while diving to save a boundary at deep backward square leg during the home defeat to Delhi Capitals on April 18, a routine fielding act that has had significant consequences for both player and franchise.

Phil Salt was in the field in the second innings of the DC game when the injury occurred in the sixth over. He had been playing with it since then, missing the subsequent three matches, before the decision was made for him to travel back to the UK for proper scans under the supervision of England's management, who hold his central contract and therefore have oversight of his medical care.

Both Salt and the RCB franchise remain hopeful that the scans will confirm the injury is not serious enough to end his IPL campaign, with the aim of getting him back to India before the end of the month. If the injury is deemed season-ending, RCB would be eligible to sign a replacement under IPL regulations, but the expectation is that every opportunity will be given for him to recover and return.

IPL 2026: What Phil Salt's absence means for RCB

Salt had been one of RCB's most important performers before the injury struck, 202 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 168.33, providing the explosive powerplay partnership with Virat Kohli that gives RCB's batting its foundation and its early momentum.

Losing him at this stage of the tournament is a real blow for a franchise chasing back-to-back titles. Jacob Bethell has stepped into the opening role in his absence, but has scored just 39 runs in three innings without yet producing the kind of performance that would make him impossible to leave out when Salt returns.

Jordan Cox, another English batter in the RCB squad, is also available as an option at the top of the order should the management need to make changes.

Also READ: RCB home games in Raipur: How and where to buy IPL 2026 match tickets

The timing and the broader picture

The frustration for Salt is significant. He had rediscovered his best form at this IPL after a lean T20 World Cup with England, and had spoken warmly about the team environment built by director of cricket Mo Bobat, head coach Andy Flower, and batting mentor Dinesh Karthik.

Getting injured while fielding rather than with the bat in hand makes it feel even crueler. RCB meanwhile are navigating a six-day gap between games following their defeat to Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad last Thursday, several players travelled to the Maldives for a mid-season break ahead of their next fixture against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday night.

They currently sit second in the table with six wins from nine games and an NRR of plus 1.420, still firmly in the title race with or without Salt. But his return, if it comes, would make them considerably more dangerous in the final stretch.