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Phil Salt has returned to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp, but his availability remains one of the biggest talking points ahead of the defending champions’ clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 on May 13 in Raipur.

RCB are currently in a strong position at the top of the table and come into the game after a dramatic last-ball win against Mumbai Indians. However, their opening struggles have become more visible in recent matches and Salt’s absence has left a gap in the batting setup.

Phil Salt rejoins squad after finger injury recovery in England

Salt has returned to India after travelling back to England for medical scans on his injured finger. Reports suggest the England opener has rejoined the RCB camp, but there is still no official confirmation from the franchise over whether he is ready to play.

The wicketkeeper-batter injured his left hand while fielding during RCB’s clash against Delhi Capitals on April 18. Since then, he has missed the last five matches, with the team forced to adjust the opening combination.

RCB top-order concerns grow as opening combination remains unsettled

Salt’s absence has affected RCB’s balance at the top, especially at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Jacob Bethell was brought in as replacement opener but the youngster has not managed to make a strong impact. That has added more pressure on Virat Kohli, whose recent struggles have also raised concern after back-to-back ducks.

There is still no official confirmation from the RCB camp and the final decision is likely to be taken only after the last training session. Since he was unavailable for the previous game as well, the management may avoid rushing him back unless he is fully fit.

As things stand, Salt remains doubtful for the KKR clash.

Salt’s comeback could strengthen RCB’s top-two finish push

RCB are currently placed on top of points table with seven wins in 11 games and a very handy net run rate. A win against KKR would almost seal their qualification and bring them closer to securing an advantage in the playoffs.

Salt’s return could therefore be a major boost as RCB hope players like Virat Kohli and Jitesh Sharma find form and carry the side strongly into the business end of IPL 2026.

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