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Royal Challengers Bengaluru travel to the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday for Match 39 against Delhi Capitals and the fitness situation around Phil Salt remains the most pressing selection question in their camp.

IPL 2026: The short answer on Phil Salt's availability for DC vs RCB game

The English opener has been one of RCB's most important performers this season, 202 runs from six matches including a devastating 78 off 36 balls against MI and a crucial 63 against DC at Chinnaswamy, but he has been ruled out of their last game against Gujarat Titans after picking up an injury during a net session. The question is whether he recovers in time for Monday's fixture.

Based on reports from the RCB camp as per TV9 Kannada, Phil Salt is not expected to be available for Monday's game against Delhi Capitals. The same injury that kept him out of the Gujarat Titans fixture is still a concern and the franchise does not appear willing to rush him back before he is fully fit.

Jacob Bethell, who replaced him in the XI against GT and made 14 off 10 balls before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj, is likely to continue as Kohli's opening partner at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

IPL 2026: The double injury blow for RCB

Salt is not the only fitness concern in the RCB camp heading into Monday's game. Rasikh Salam Dar, who was in the field against GT but left midway through the match with a muscle strain, is also understood to be unavailable for the DC fixture according to a TV9 Kannada report.

Losing both an opener and a key pace bowling option for the same game is a significant double disruption for a side that has otherwise been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament, sitting third on the table with five wins from seven games and ten points.

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IPL 2026: What Jacob Bethell's opportunity means for RCB

If Salt is indeed unavailable, Jacob Bethell gets another chance to establish himself in what is arguably the most high-profile opening slot in world T20 cricket, batting alongside Virat Kohli at the top of the order for the defending IPL champions.

Bethell is a hugely talented young English cricketer and the opportunity to play these games in the pressure environment of the IPL is exactly the kind of development experience that can shape a career. His 14 against GT was a short outing but showed composure under pressure.

Against a DC bowling attack that has been searching for consistency without Mitchell Starc, Monday could be the platform for a breakout performance. Salt's return will depend entirely on how his injury responds in the next 24 hours, but for now Bethell is the man in the opening slot and RCB's management appear comfortable with that.