Jacob Bethell To Open With Virat Kohli: How Phil Salt's Axing Could Help RCB Win IPL 2026

Why RCB should open with Kohli and Bethell in IPL 2026 [Source: AFP, X]

The IPL 2026 season is set to commence this month, and the defending champions, RCB, have a headache on their hands. The team is sorted and built perfectly for the upcoming season, and the reigning champions have a plethora of quality overseas players in their arsenal; hence, picking four out of so many players becomes a difficult job.

Last season, the franchise opened the batting with the reliable pair of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt. Interestingly, the move paid dividends as the team captured the IPL trophy, and the opening partnership worked wonders for RCB.

The headache for RCB ahead of IPL 2026

However, ahead of the IPL season, Salt is out of form and went through a torrid time in the T20 World Cup, scoring only 130 runs in eight matches as England crashed out in the semis. On the other hand, Jacob Bethell, another RCBIAN showed his class and was the best performer for the team in the marquee event.

The southpaw even scored a stellar century against India in the semis, and almost pulled off a miracle. With the IPL season starting soon, the champions will not be too eager to start with Salt, who is going through a rough patch. Hence, here ids why the management might take a punt by playing Bethell over him.

Why RCB could pair Bethell with Kohli for IPL 2026

Bethell in form, can't say the same for Salt

Last season, Bethell played only a handful of matches for RCB, and it was Salt who donned the opening role for them. However, this season, the tables could turn and the southpaw could be the prime contender to bat alongside Kohli.

It is not an overreaction, but perhaps the franchise should at least start with Bethell in the first few games, as the batter is in form, unlike Salt.

(Bethell vs Salt in T20 WC 2026)

• As the data reveals, Bethell has been a superior batter in the T20 World Cup, with the southpaw scoring 150 more runs, having played the same number of games.
• While Bethell has scored 280 runs, with a strike rate of 152, Salt has just added 130 runs, with a strike rate of 158. Interestingly, the left-handed youngster always came to England’s rescue as salt, and Buttler failed to deliver the goods throughout the tournament.
• Currently, Bethell instills more confidence in the RCB side with his batting, and the team should play a punt by at least starting with him for the first few games.

Also Read: Harry Brook Indirectly Demands RCB To Raise Jacob Bethell's Salary

The left-right combo to trouble the opposition

Both Salt, and Kohli are righties, and it works in the opposition's favour as it is easier to bowl to batters who are the same (in this case, both are right-handers). However, the inclusion of a left-handed batter changed the equation.

The bowler then has to adjust his lines and lengths accordingly, and a lefty-righty combination disrupts the rhythm of the opposition bowlers, and this could work in RCB’s favour.

Strike rate against spinners

Interestingly, Salt looks more dangerous than Bethell in terms of striking, but against the spinners, Bethell has had his numbers. In the IPL, teams will bring in spinners against Salt, and Kohli, and the English opener has a strike rate of just 141 against spinners in T20Is.

On the other hand, Bethell strikes at 170.5 against the spinners, and the world saw how he took down India’s best spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy, with utmost ease in the semifinals.

Conclusion

Phil Salt is a terrific player, but RCB have a jewel in their hands in the form of Jacob Bethell. The English batter is in the form of his life, and perhaps, the franchise could promote him to open the batting alongside Virat Kohli in the IPL 2026.

He brings in a different dynamism, and the lefty-righty angle could work wonders for the reigning IPL champions.

Also Read: CSK Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad Fires Explosive Warning To All Teams Before IPL 2026