In the 18th season of the IPL, jersey No. 18 Virat Kohli finally got his well-deserved reward as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the IPL trophy for the first time in history. RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final and lifted their maiden IPL title, ending a long wait of 17 years. This win is even more special for the team’s explosive batter, Phil Salt, who is also very happy. It is being said that he has become a father to a baby boy.

Phil Salt had gone home and missed practice for two days before the final match. His girlfriend, Abi McLaven, has reportedly given birth to their first child. It is said to be a baby boy. Although no official statement has been made yet, a photo of Salt in a red T-shirt is going viral.

A red T-shirt photo is going viral on social media, with the words "Junior Salt" written on it in English. Because of this, people are congratulating Phil Salt. He is happy to become the father of a baby boy, and at the same time, he is also celebrating RCB’s first IPL trophy win. Fans are calling it a double celebration for Phil Salt.

After RCB’s historic 6-run win over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 final, Salt shared a special post on Instagram. The post showed two of the most important moments of his life. The first photo showed Salt in the dressing room with Virat Kohli, holding the IPL trophy and smiling happily.

The next photo brought smiles to fans' faces. It was of a tiny red and gold T-shirt with “Salt Jr.” written on it — a sweet way to celebrate both his newborn and RCB's victory. Other photos showed the title celebration and a group picture of the champion team. Salt captioned the post: "48 hours that will live long in the memory ❤️ @royalchallengers.bengaluru"

Phil Salt opened the batting in the final and scored 16 runs off just 9 balls, hitting 1 six and 2 fours. Later, while fielding near the boundary, he took an amazing catch that surprised everyone. Virat Kohli praised Salt’s performance and wrote, “Well done, partner. Now it’s time to get back to the real job—changing diapers.”

Notably, the English batter had been a strong opening batter throughout the season, giving RCB great starts and forming a solid partnership with Kohli. He was bought by RCB for a huge amount of ₹11.50 crore, and he lived up to the expectations.

The IPL 2025 final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) was filled with drama, but none more thrilling than the piece of brilliance created by Phil Salt close to the boundary. With PBKS going hard in their 191-run pursuit at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Salt's breathtaking catch off the last over of the powerplay altered the pace of the evening and perhaps the destiny of the final.

Punjab were going at a cracking pace with young opener Priyansh Arya in fluent touch, having hit four boundaries on the way to a promising 24 from 19 balls. Just when Arya was set to up the ante, Josh Hazlewood served a short-of-length delivery angling into the body. Arya, unbeatable and calm, tried to pull it over deep backward square leg.

But waiting down in the deep was Salt, patrolling the outfield, not donning the gloves for RCB. What ensued was nothing less than world-class athleticism and alertness. Running to his right at top speed, Salt held the catch while the ball was still in play, but instantly realized his pace would carry him over the boundary. In a stunning example of improvisation, he released the ball in mid-air while crossing over the rope, clean-stepped out, and came back to finish the catch without incident.

It was a defence for the ages. With 90,000+ supporters going berserk inside the world's biggest cricket stadium, Salt's calm head and agile feet provided RCB with the breakthrough they so badly sought. Arya's dismissal put an end to Punjab's initial flow and breathed new life into RCB's defence of 190/9 in their first title quest.

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] IPL 2025 Final: Jitesh Sharma against Kyle Jamieson unorthodox six in RCB vs PBKS clash

Phil Salt's Boundary Magic Turns the Tide as RCB Halt PBKS Surge in Final

Punjab Kings had won the toss earlier and decided to field. RCB's innings never really took off, but they managed to keep the scoreboard turning with consistent inputs. Virat Kohli led the charge with 43 off 35 and kept anchoring the innings even as wickets tumbled around him. Rajat Patidar added 26, while Liam Livingstone's (25), Mayank Agarwal's, and Jitesh Sharma's (24 each) cameos propelled RCB to 190.

Watch the video:

🚨 Game-changer from Salt!
Priyansh Arya falls for 24(19) as Phil Salt pulls off a sensational running catch near the ropes — cool, calm, and clutch under pressure!#RCBvPBKS #IPLFinals #IPL2025 #TATAIPL #BCCI #India #Kohli #Final #TheLastMile pic.twitter.com/S99aD0bcLN

— SportyCinema (@CinemaSporty) June 3, 2025

PBKS bowlers, particularly during the death overs, were superb. Kyle Jamieson (3/48) and Arshdeep Singh (3/40) strangled the game, while Azmatullah Omarzai picked the crucial wicket of Kohli. Yuzvendra Chahal's 1/37 also contributed significantly in holding down the middle overs. In turn, PBKS started well, getting to 98/3 at the 12 overs, but Salt's acrobatics meant that Arya, who had appeared to be a match-winning prospect, was unable to proceed. The timing of the dismissal couldn't have been more pivotal.

Despite the disappointment, Priyansh Arya can be proud of his first IPL season. The young opener finished with 466 runs in 17 games, a plundering hundred against Chennai Super Kings, a 103 off mere 42 balls that marked his arrival on the big stage.

The final began with a bit of nerves for Arshdeep Singh. His very first ball was too wide down the leg side, and Phil Salt tried to swing at it but missed. Still, RCB got their first run thanks to that wide. Arshdeep’s next couple of deliveries were much better. One was full and outside off, which Salt pushed to mid-off. The next was on the pads, and Salt worked it straight to cover. Two dot balls gave Arshdeep a small breather. But things were about to change quickly.

The third ball Salt faced was a gift. Short and on the leg side, and Salt had no problem helping it over the fine leg boundary for six. It was the first proper hit of the final, and a strong message from Salt. Arshdeep tried to adjust but bowled another short one again on leg stump. This time Salt pulled it to fine leg for four more runs. Long leg had just been removed, so it was the perfect placement.

ALSO READ: TNPL 2025 Schedule Announced: Key dates and matchups you can’t miss

Arshdeep continued to struggle with his line. The next ball was on the pads again, and Salt flicked it through square leg. Nehal Wadhera chased it down well in the deep and saved two runs. Arshdeep ended the over with a short ball outside off, and Salt let it go.

In total, Arshdeep gave away 13 runs in his first over in the final of IPL 2025, including a wide. He clearly looked under pressure, and Salt took full advantage. It wasn’t the kind of start Punjab would have hoped for, but Salt looked in the zone right from the beginning.

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. 

Now another twist in the tale. After Tim David, Phil Salt is also uncertain for the IPL 2025 summit clash today at Ahmedabad. The June 3 morning has started with the out-of-the-equation reports about Salt, the undisputed opener of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for this year's campaign.

As per the ongoing speculations in social media, the England batter is set to miss the all-important game against Punjab Kings (PBKS). But there are several questions and some counter suggestions also to oppose these kinds of rumors.

Actually, 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.

Read More: IPL 2025: Is Tim David going to play in PBKS vs RCB clash?

A report published by ESPNcricinfo stated, "Salt was not at the ground when RCB trained on the eve of the final, but that isn't unusual. Quite a few players choose to prepare by themselves instead of having one more net. If Salt is not in Ahmedabad and has dashed home to be with his family, RCB won't let it be known until match day. Not with a player so important."

This can be a mind game too

So, the practice season arranged by Royal Challengers Bengaluru before the final was not mandatory for everyone to join; players had the option to prepare in their own ways. 

Another thing is that RCB coach Andy Flower, who is well reputed for playing mind games, could be a factor behind the speculations of Salt. So, 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. 

Hours to go before the ultimate countdown, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) are gearing up to chase glory. Never in their entire lifetime have the two franchises been able to conquer the title. It's a feat that has evaded them for 17 long years. But all the wait will now come to an end as either of the two sides will go on to win the trophy for the first time. 

RCB and PBKS have exchanged fire over the past two games this season. Although PBKS were able to draw the first blood, triumphing by a margin of five wickets, RCB were quick to give them a reality check in the first Qualifier game. This will be the third meeting between the two sides this season. With the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, and Arshdeep Singh on one side, and Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, and Josh Hazlewood on the other, the Narendra Modi Stadium is all set to host a scintillating grand final.

In this article, we will uncover the top three batters who could go on to become the highest run-getters in the upcoming IPL 2025 final.

See also: 'And after the game…'—Shreyas Iyer reveals dressing room fact about Ricky Ponting ahead of RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 final

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The RCB batting maestro has been full of runs this season. He is the highest run scorer for RCB this season, averaging 55.81 across 14 innings, striking at an impressive strike rate of 146. Besides, the 36-year-old has registered eight half-century scores this season. Interestingly enough, all his fifties have come in a winning cause. With Salt accompanying him at the top, Virat can be a destructive force at the top of the order. The opening duo of Virat and Salt has raised alarm bells for the opposition in recent times, and we expect the two to shine immensely against PBKS in the summit clash.

Phil Salt (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Virat's partner in crime, Phil Salt, has hit the ground running this season and has been churning out runs consistently at the top of the order. He boasts an electrifying strike rate of over 170 and is naturally a clean hitter of the ball. Unlike Kohli, who buys some time at the top of the order to get himself in, Salt bats with an aggressive approach, which gives RCB the explosive edge. The Englishman is the second-highest run-getter for RCB this season with 387 runs in 12 innings, averaging around 35. While his participation in the upcoming final seems debatable, if he does manage to feature, then he can go on to score big.

Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings)

The PBKS skipper has been a binding force for the franchise this season. Leading his side through rough times, Shreyas has demonstrated his tactical acumen as a skipper. More importantly, his exploits with the bat have not gone unnoticed either. The 30-year-old is the highest run scorer for his franchise this season with 606 runs under his belt. After 13 innings, his average stands at an impressive high of 54.81, while his strike rate is also astonishingly high, ranging in excess of 175.  Shreyas has been leading his side with an example, and if the stars align for him tonight, he could go on to have two back-to-back title wins under his belt. (One for KKR in 2024 and one for PBKS this season)

It is being widely speculated that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Phil Salt is all set to miss the final match of the IPL 2025 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The England opener is believed to be expecting a child soon and has reportedly flown back to the UK to be with his family to celebrate the auspicious moment. 

Although the rumors have not been confirmed yet, if it holds true, then it can serve as a huge blow to the RCB. Salt has been in menacing form with the bat this season, and his absence could hurt RCB big time in this upcoming crunch contest. The franchise has not made an official announcement regarding his unavailability, but we won't know that for certain until a few minutes before the game.

See also: IPL 2025, Final: Probable Playing XI for RCB vs PBKS

Salt goes missing from team training

On the eve of the final, Salt was not seen on the ground with his team. He did not take part in the training session, but that is not highly unusual since players prefer getting trained in their own space. During instances of player absences, RCB head coach Andy Flower is known to play mind games, as he usually tends to keep the opposition guessing. Moreover, he also goes to extreme lengths and makes the injured players do warm-up drills just before the toss, thus serving as a perfect decoy tool to deceive the opposition.

To sum it all up, if Salt has indeed flown back home to observe the birth of their child, RCB will keep the news hidden from the public and won't let them know a few minutes prior to kick-off. 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) arrived in Ahmedabad ahead of the IPL 2025 final, which will be played on June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This is a big moment for the RCB team and their fans, as RCB will be playing in their fourth IPL final, still trying to win their first-ever trophy in IPL.

RCB is Dreaming Big: One Win Away from Their First-Ever IPL Title

RCB’s journey this season has been inspiring and outstanding gameplay by RCB. With new captain Rajat Patidar, the team has shown great spirit and teamwork. Patidar stepped into the Captainacy role after Faf du Plessis moved on, and he has done a solid job. With senior players like Virat Kohli and Phil Salt adding a good start at the top, RCB has looked like a strong team in IPL 2025.

RCB TEAM HAVE ARRIVED AT AHMEDABAD FOR IPL 2025 FINAL. 🏆

pic.twitter.com/CTyl5NQWT8

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 1, 2025

As the team reached Ahmedabad today, they were welcomed with cheers and excitement by the fans. Star batter Virat Kohli and his team joined for the crucial final match in Ahmedabad.

RCB booked their place in the final after defeating Punjab Kings by 8 wickets in Qualifier 1. Bowlers like Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood helped keep Punjab to a low score, and the batsmen chased it down comfortably. Now, all eyes are on the big final match. Fans have started arriving in Ahmedabad, and ticket demand is very high. The stadium is expected to be full of supporters who hope to see RCB finally lift the IPL trophy and dreams fulfilled for millions of fans.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: PBKS vs MI Qualifier 2 - Narendra Modi stadium stats and preview

With the final just around the corner, RCB will be focused and ready to get the first-ever title for RCB. The players know how much this means not just to the team, but to the millions of fans who have waited for this moment for years. RCB team is ready to roar in the crucial final.

The first qualifier match of IPL 2025 was played on 29 May at Mullanpur ground in Chandigarh. In which the teams of RCB and Punjab (RCB vs PBKS Highlights) were face to face. In this match, the Bangalore team has won in a one-sided manner. With the victory in this match, RCB has reached the final in 2025 after 2016. While the wait for the final will still continue for Punjab.

RCB in the final after 9 years

IPL 2025 has been very special for the Bangalore team since the beginning. This is the reason why the team has also reached the final of this season. The first qualifier match was played on 29 May in which the team of Punjab Kings was face to face. In this match, Punjab batted first but the team was restricted to just 101 runs. All the batsmen failed to score runs for Punjab in this match. On the other hand, RCB completely dominated Punjab in this match. Be it batting or bowling. Because RCB chased this target of 102 runs in just 10 overs.

Punjab Kings have reached Qualifier 2 after losing in the first qualifier. While the eliminator match of this season will be played on 30 May. In which the teams of Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians were face to face. Whichever team wins this match will play against Punjab on June 1 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether Punjab will be able to win this match or say that it will be out of the playoffs despite topping the points table.

ALSO READ: Top 3 reasons why Punjab Kings Lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Qualifier 1

Twitter reactions after RCB wins Qualifier match of IPL 2025

"WE WON"
RCB VS PBKS ❤
CONGRATULATIONS #RCB 🤘

THANK YOU TEAM RCB ♥️ 🫰
Virat Kohli led with heart ❤️

Phil Salt exploded with the bat 💥
and Josh Hazlewood brought the heat with the ball💪

The dream is alive.!!!🏆#RCBvsPBKS #RCB #RCBFinals pic.twitter.com/GlX4xkk4Gu

— Ragini (@raginixoxo) May 29, 2025

Rcb win 🙌 🔥 🧿
Phil Salt 🔥🔥🧿
Suyash Sharma🔥🔥🧿#RCBvsPBKS #RCB #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/1F0PmHMuBR

— 𝓐𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲⁷ 🇮🇳🍷🐇 (@I_am_anshi0) May 29, 2025

RCB’s bowling unit today be like: "Tu batting kar, hum wicket lete hain!
Hazlewood, Bhuvi & Yash Dayal turned the pitch into a dance floor for wickets!
RCB fans right now: RCB Zindabad memes loading! #PBKSvsRCB #RCBvsPBKS #BowledOver #IPLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/qG9FMH9XZc

— Trilochan Bhattarai (@trilochan000) May 29, 2025

Virat Kohli shouted inside stadium : 120 mins

Runs scored while chasing 101 : 12#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/8XkAbUHlyu

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) May 29, 2025

Congratulations RCB 🥳#RCBvsPBKS RCB RCB pic.twitter.com/Dq8JDrmpDf

— विक्रम 𝘬ꪊꪑꪖ𝘳 🦇 (@printf_meme) May 29, 2025

To all the haters 😂
Congratulations RCB ❤️ #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/kv1s0wHyxk

— Manish (@memer_manis) May 29, 2025

Bhakti mein hi shakti hai❤️

Congratulations RCB!!! Into the finals !!!#RCBvsPBKS #IPLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/2ppB2OZGfm

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) May 29, 2025

RCB didn’t play cricket , they held a f*cking funeral. Punjab bowled out for 101 pure f*cking carnage.#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/g765WR0AEH

— εмρεяσя (@EmperorVK) May 29, 2025

Humbling Of These 2 Annoying faces 🤣🔥

Yeah I think Everyone Loves it And Deserves it for the cringe They've spread this season #RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/knCtnwPn1R

— Kau5tubh30 (@Kaustubh001ac) May 29, 2025

When you have no goal in your life, doing only shit things, no girlfriend, friend roaming with his girlfriend, but the team you love RCB won and reached the final#RCBvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/muWWsp9hhw

— Aditya (@79_capetown) May 29, 2025

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have achieved a historic record in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by being the first team in history to have 10 different batsmen score 50 or more in one season. This unprecedented record not just proves their batting depth but also the versatility and balance of the team during the high-profile 2025 season.

At the helm of this incredible lineup is Virat Kohli himself, who has been in sensational touch with 8 fifties, holding up RCB's innings at the most crucial moments. Backing him are the likes of Phil Salt (3 fifties) and Rajat Patidar (2 fifties), both of whom have produced thunderous beginnings and important partnerships with regularity. Young player Devdutt Padikkal also chipped in with two respectable half-centuries in the top order option.

RCB's one of the surprises is how their batting has not just been limited to their top order. The middle and lower-middle order has done work under pressure as well, with Jitesh Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Krunal Pandya all getting a fifty. Some of them were depending on innings where the team was struggling, whereby the team could build momentum and post finishes with skill and challenging targets in the chase. With a total of 21 fifties spread across 10 players, RCB have redefined what a balanced, team-centric batting unit looks like in the IPL. It’s a record that not only speaks to individual brilliance but also to the strategic depth and flexibility of the squad.

RCB Gears Up for High-Stakes Clash Against PBKS in Qualifier 1

With the group stage complete, Royal Challengers Bengaluru now prepare for Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 29. With momentum on their side and an unblemished away record this season, RCB will seek to take advantage of their form and home advantage as they try to finally win their first IPL trophy.

Also Read: [WATCH] Hardik awkwardly behaves with the PBKS skipper, refuses to shake hands twice

RCB has made a good case for being one of the top contenders after their current round of performances. Through regular batting performance, good tactics, and a historic unbeaten run on the road, RCB has proven to be a tough team to beat. With the playoffs upon us, everyone is wondering if Bengaluru can take that momentum into the playoffs and if they can win their first IPL title, finally.