Why is Phil Salt not playing today in RCB vs GT IPL 2026 game?

Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium is hosting the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans (RCB vs GT) match on Friday night (April 24). At the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar confirmed that the English opener Phil Salt isn't playing this match. Here, we will know the reason for Salt not playing the match. 

Salt is a key overseas face for RCB. He is playing important roles as a batter and a fielder. However, he is currently injured, as the RCB captain Patidar confirmed Salt's absence from the match. Even the franchise has come up with a social media post, wishing a speedy recovery. 

The 22-year-old English youngster Jacob Bethell is set to replace Salt in the RCB vs GT match. While the RCB captain chose to field first after winning the toss, Bethell is likely to join the squad as an impact sub. It is going to be his first match of the season, while he played two games for the franchise in the IPL 2025 and scored a total of 67 runs, including one half-century. 

RCB, GT both meeting after breaking their winning streaks

Defending champions RCB are in third position in the IPL 2026 points table with eight points in six games, four wins, and two losses. On the other hand, the seventh-placed GT have six points after six matches, recording three wins and three losses. Both teams suffered defeats in their last match, as RCB broke their two-match winning streak, and GT broke their three-match winning streak. 

Phil Salt: Key face for RCB

In the previous two IPL seasons, Phil Salt scored 400+ runs as his teams Kolkata Knight Riders (435 in 2024) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (403 in 2025) both won titles in those respective seasons. In the IPL 2026, the English opener has scored 202 runs in six innings with an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 168.33. Although he has been dismissed in single digit thrice this IPL season, including a duck, the right-handed batter has also recorded two half-centuries, as these three knocks are 46, 78, and 63 runs. He is the third most run-scorer for the franchise this season. Meanwhile, he has also impressed with his brilliant catches, as he has taken six catches this season.