RCB Confirm Virat Kohli's Opening Partner For IPL 2026

Virat Kohli's opening partner revealed by RCB [Source: AFP]

The IPL 2026 is just around the corner, with the defending champions, RCB, taking on the SRH in the opening fixture of the tournament. RCB had a strong squad heading into the IPL 2026, and they further strengthened it by making minor tweaks in the mini auction.

All the core members from their title-winning campaign were retained, and a handful of players were brought in as the franchise aims to win back-to-back IPL titles. However, things have not been easy for RCB heading into the IPL season.

Josh Hazlewood is injured and will miss the start of the IPL. Moreover, Yash Dayal won’t be a part of the squad for IPL 2026, and that makes their bowling weak. Apart from it, one major concern for RCB has been the opening conundrum.

RCB's Mo Bobat reveals Virat Kohli's opening partner for IPL 2026

Virat Kohli, the star batter, will open the batting for RCB in IPL 2026, and last season, it was Phil Salt who opened with the Indian great. The duo complemented each other to perfection as RCB clinched the IPL title. However, heading into the new season, Salt has been out of form, and many wanted youngster Jacob Bethell to replace him as opener.

The RCB management held a press conference on Tuesday, and despite the rumours circulating that Salt might not play the first game against SRH, the RCB squad publicly backed Salt and revealed that he will continue to open alongside Virat Kohli.

"We got a high quality squad. Someone like Salt is still one of the top two-three batters in T20s. He enjoys his partnership with Kohli, a couple of gladiators walking out. We have a huge amount of confidence in Salt," RCB's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat said, as quoted by RevSportz.

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The reliabe Kohli-Salt pair that helped RCB win IPL title

With the departure of Faf du Plessis ahead of IPL 2025, RCB needed a strong replacement, and the franchise went all out in purchasing Phil Salt, the former KKR opener. The decision paid off instantly as the pair of Kohli and Salt clicked immediately.

Both complemented each other, and the numbers reveal the story. Opening the batting, last season, Kohli amassed 657 runs, with a strike rate of 144, and on the other hand, Salt was the chief aggressor as he smacked 403 runs, and struck them at 175.98.

The chemistry between the pair was one of the main reasons why RCB won their maiden IPL championship after 18 years.

Salt's inclusion means, Bethell to warm the bench

While Phil Salt failed to deliver for England in the T20 World Cup, Jacob Bethell, the star boy from the team, was one of their best performers. In fact, in a high-octane semifinals against India, the left-handed batter smashed a brilliant hundred, but he couldn’t help England cross the line.

It was expected that RCB might go in with a left-right opening combination, but now, with RCB confirming Salt as the other opener, Bethell might have to warm the bench. The other three foreign players in the playing XI are expected to be Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Jacob Duffy.

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