RCB's Mo Bobat Expresses Confidence in Phil Salt Ahead of IPL 2026

As the IPL 2026 season approaches, RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has voiced his unwavering support for Phil Salt, despite the batter's recent struggles. Salt, who had a stellar performance during RCB's title-winning campaign, faced challenges in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Bobat remains optimistic about Salt's partnership with Virat Kohli and the team's overall strength. With the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28, fans are eager to see how Salt will perform alongside his teammates.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 25, 2026, 02:07 IST

Mo Bobat Backs Phil Salt for IPL 2026

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 24: Mo Bobat, the director of cricket for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has shown his support for the struggling England batsman Phil Salt as the team prepares for the IPL 2026 season. Bobat is eager to see Salt open the innings alongside Virat Kohli for the defending champions.

During RCB's inaugural title-winning season, Salt had an impressive performance, amassing 403 runs across 13 innings with an average of 33.58. However, his recent form has been concerning, as he managed only 130 runs in eight matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, averaging just 16.25.

When questioned about Salt's current form as the IPL approaches, Bobat reassured fans by highlighting the team's depth and experience, noting that Salt is still among the top-ranked T20 players globally.

Currently, Salt holds the fourth position in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings.

Bobat stated, “I don’t have any concerns. Our squad is filled with high-quality players, many of whom have international experience. Phil Salt remains one of the elite T20 batters in the world.”

He expressed excitement about the prospect of Salt and Kohli batting together, describing them as 'gladiators' who will aim to put pressure on their opponents. Bobat emphasized the team's confidence in Salt, stating, “I’m sure he’ll go out there and perform.”

Bobat also mentioned that Salt enjoys his time with RCB and has a strong partnership with Kohli, working well with teammates like Andy and DK. He is optimistic that Salt will showcase his skills at the beginning of the season.

RCB will commence their title defense against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.