There are strong speculations on social media platforms that Phil Salt can miss the all-important IPL 2025 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS). Speculations spread like fire when Salt opted to skip a training session ahead of the highly anticipated clash. The Virat Kohli and Phil Salt pair proved to be one of the best opening pairs throughout the season.

Now, if the England opener is really unable to play the final match, then RCB may have to change their strategy and pick a suitable replacement for the opening slot. Fortunately, there are multiple batters in the RCB squad who can be used as an opening batsman. 

Opening batting options for Royal Challengers Bengaluru except Phil Salt: 

Mayank Agarwal: The experienced Indian batter has already made his mark as the replacement in the squad as a middle-order batsman, though he made his name as an opener. With his ability to adopt a game and techniques, Agarwal is definitely an alternative for top-order batting roles, including in the opening position with Virat Kohli. Agarwal, in 3 matches for RCB in IPL 2025, scored 71 with a batting average of 35.50, including an unbeaten 41-run innings.

Read More: IPL 2025: RCB vs PBKS Prediction– Finals, Who will win today?

Tim Seifert: RCB signed him in the middle of the season as the replacement of Jacob Bethell. Seifert, another top-order batsman in RCB's arsenal, has so far remained unused but is a possible option on paper for the opening slot. With his 360-degree hitting abilities, the New Zealand cricketer established himself as a prolific hitter in the limited format of the game. 

Will Phil Salt be set to miss the final? 

The star opener is expecting to welcome his first child, and he wants to accompany his partner for the birth of their first child. And in the meantime, when this update had started to circulate, Salt chose to remain absent from the RCB training season, which sparked the speculations about his availability for the RCB vs. PBKS IPL 2025 final game. But if we thoroughly notice all the possibilities and facts, then we can find that Phil Salt has high chances to take part in the grand finale.