Rajat Patidar Issues Official Statement On Phil Salt's IPL Return; Gives Own Injury Update

Phil Salt has missed 6 matches for RCB [Source: AP]RCB captain Rajat Patidar issued a statement on Phil Salt's IPL 2026 return after his side crushed Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru inched closer to the IPL 2026 playoffs following an emphatic victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the 57th group-stage match of the tournament. Led by Rajat Patidar, the defending champions secured their eighth win of the season, pushing KKR to the verge of an embarrassing group-stage exit. Batting first, the Knight Riders posted a respectable total of 192 runs, riding on flamboyant knocks from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh. In response, the Royal Challengers chased the target in 19.1 overs, with Virat Kohli slamming a magnificent century. After the game concluded, RCB captain Rajat Patidar released a statement on Phil Salt's return, while also giving an update on his concussion injury scare. When will Phil Salt play his next match for RCB? Patidar breaks silenceSwashbuckling England batter Phil Salt sustained a finger injury in the high-profile RCB Vs DC encounter. The injury sidelined him from the subsequent matches, with Jacob Bethell replacing him as opener in the Royal Challengers' playing XI. Although Salt's absence gave Bethell a golden opportunity to showcase his mettle and cement his spot in the team, the youngster let it slip with a string of poor outings. The southpaw has managed only 85 runs in six innings at a modest average of 14.17. Also Read: Virat Kohli Starts Dancing On 98, Realises 100 Isn’t Done, Then Abandons Ton CelebrationWith the RCB fans eagerly awaiting Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar released a statement, suggesting the Englishman's return to the playing XI might be delayed further. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Patidar refused to give an exact timeline for Phil Salt's IPL comeback, hoping the Englishman would recover and return to action soon. Salt was one of the in-form batters for the defending champions and scored 202 runs in six innings at an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 168.33 before getting injured. Rajat Patidar gives own injury updateRajat Patidar was struck by a lightning-quick bouncer by Kartik Tyagi during the riveting face-off between RCB and KKR. The incident occurred during the 14th over when Patidar had just joined Virat Kohli following the dismissal of Devdutt Padikkal. Kartik Tyagi bowled a sharp bumper, which struck Patidar at the back of his helmet. The right-handed batter looked in serious discomfort and was attended by the team physio. At the post-match presentation, Patidar said he was fine, although the blow felt like a headshot in real time. "(On his injury) I’m okay. It was a proper headshot, but I’m fine now. So far, we’ve played good cricket. There are still two league games left, and we are taking things one match at a time. Now we travel to Dharamsala, which is a good batting wicket, and we’ll try our best to win there before heading to Hyderabad. (On Phil Salt’s availability) I don't know, but I think he will come soon," Rajat Patidar stated. RCB's upcoming matches in IPL 2026Royal Challengers Bengaluru dethroned Gujarat Titans to claim the top spot in the IPL 2026 points table after defeating KKR. They will take on Punjab Kings on May 17 before facing the rampant Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final group-stage match on May 22. Also Read: Pat Cummins Leads Rebel Against Cricket Australia As BBL Faces Exodus Threat