Virat Kohli Phil Salt for RCB. Image Credits: AP/AFP
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) suffered a major setback as Phil Salt reportedly flew back home due to a finger injury. The English opening batter has been a vital cog for RCB, contributing heavily to their maiden triumph and doing well this season as well.
With Salt out with an injury on his left hand, the defending champions are opening the innings with Jacob Bethell, alongside their ever-trusted Virat Kohli. Having said that, the prodigy, however, has not done anything worthy in the three opportunities he has had.
Although the injured Englishman has not been ruled out of the season, he will likely push to return later in the tournament. Let us look at the top replacements RCB might consider in place of Phil Salt.
Top replacements for RCB after Phil Salt's injury
3) Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Just like Phil Salt, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has done well in the IPL for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Opening the batting, the Afghan star was prolific for the three-time champions back in IPL 2023, scoring 227 runs in 11 innings.
Although those numbers are jaw-dropping by today's standards, Gurbaz performed exceptionally well at the 2026 T20 World Cup. After the hectic campaign, he took a break, as he wasn't part of either IPL 2026 or PSL 2026, so he will have his juices fully flowing.
Also Read: RCB Players Leave India Amid IPL 2026; Fly To Another Country For Mid-Season Break
2) Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow is a well-known name in the IPL circuits, as all the OG fans remember the JB wonders in IPL 2019 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Opening the innings with David Warner, he was unstoppable that year as he finished with 445 runs striking at 157.24, with his best coming at RCB (an added brownie point for JB).
In IPL 2023, Bairstow was the central figure for Punjab Kings as they chased down 262 against KKR. Then, last season, MI acquired his services for the playoffs, when he played two blitzes in Eliminator and Qualifier 2.
As the English wicketkeeper went unsold in the auction prior to IPL 2026, he will be a like-for-like replacement if Phil Salt fails to rejoin the defending champions.
1) Jake Fraser-McGurk
Jake Fraser-McGurk, regarded as a fearsome striker of the cricket ball, set the stage on fire in IPL 2024, playing for Delhi Capitals, where he smoked 330 runs at a strike rate of 234.04, which was never seen in the league before that.
The exciting batter slammed a half-century in just 15 deliveries, twice in IPL 2024. However, his stocks nosedived completely the following year, when he could score only 55 runs.
In 2026, Fraser-McGurk was acquired by RawalPindiz during the recently concluded PSL season, but he pulled out at the last minute, citing personal reasons. Although he is not going through a good phase, the 24-year-old could be the X-Factor for RCB in the business end.
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