'You have to play...'- Phil Salt recalls how his wife convinced him to play IPL 2025 final for RCB

The England wicket-keeper and opening batter, Phil Salt, went back home when the IPL 2025 was suspended for a week due to the Pahalgam terror attack. When the tournament restarted, he came back to India for the first qualifier game for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and went back home to be with his wife.

Salt recalled the period of how his wife, Abi McLaven, made the decision and convinced the batter to be with the franchise in the final. The opener, who missed the IPL 2024 final for the Kolkata Knight Riders, however, wanted to be with his wife and newborn child.

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“I was in Ahmedabad two days before the final, and got a phone call from the missus to say it was definitely happening. I got on the plane as quickly as I could. Abi kicked me out the door, basically. She said, 'You have to play. ' She made the decision for me, which was very funny - and very selfless of her.” Salt was expressed during a recent interaction on ESPNcricinfo.

Phil Salt recalls story of how he got convinced to return for IPL 2025 final

Salt, during the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, smashed 403 runs in 13 innings at an average of 33.58 and a strike rate of 175.98 with the help of four half-centuries. It was a successful season when he crossed the 400-run mark.

“I missed an IPL final the year before, and that one really hurt because we [Kolkata Knight Riders] went on to win it. I was part of everything leading up to it, and then not be a part of it did sting a bit. The final was a little bit of a blur until the last over, which I remember second by second. It all happened very quick It was really, really special.” The Lancashire batter explained.

In the recent T20I, Salt has been in exceptional touch. He bashed an unbeaten 141 runs against South Africa in Manchester and continued with another 89 runs against Ireland in Dublin.