3 Players Who Can Replace Phil Salt In RCB For IPL 2025

On May 13, England declared their 15-member ODI squad for the three-match home series against the West Indies. Phil Salt, the wicket-keeper batter, is a part of the group and is expected to be away from the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Because of the suspension of the tournament after the cross-border situation between India and Pakistan, most of these players are unlikely to stay in India for the playoffs of the 20-over league. This will lead the franchise to look for a few replacements.

RCB to miss Phil Salt for IPL 2025 playoffs

Phil Salt, who missed the last couple of weeks of the competition due to sickness, flew back home along with all-rounder Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone.

All three players are expected to be back for the restart of the event on May 17 for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Also Read: BCCI Shuts The Vice-Captaincy Door On Rishabh Pant's Face

However, both Salt and Bethell, as of now, are scheduled to miss the playoffs of the competition, while Livingstone, who is not part of the ODI series, will stay back in India.

Bengaluru is missing Phil Salt badly, with the wicket-keeper showing his class at the opening position this year.

Meanwhile, Salt has clubbed 239 runs in nine innings of the IPL 2025 at an average of 26.55 and a strike rate of 168.30, thanks to two half-centuries at the best score of 65 runs.

This has come after his fabulous last edition for the Kolkata Knight Riders, when he accumulated 435 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 182.

In Salt’s absence, the RCB management will need to find an opener, but, having Jitesh Sharma in the squad, they are free from the position.

3 Players Who Can Replace Phil Salt In RCB For IPL 2025

1. Mark Chapman (New Zealand)

The left-handed New Zealand batter, Mark Chapman, is very aggressive in all phases of the game and can make a huge difference with the blade in any situation.

Chapman, on one hand, is yet to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but his contributions of 1739 runs in 77 T20I innings at an average of 27.60 and a strike rate of 133.87, including one century and nine half-centuries, at the best score of unbeaten 104 runs.

On the flat Bengaluru surface, Chapman can club the big shots around the park from the beginning of the innings to replace Phil Salt.

2. Tim Seifert (New Zealand)

The Kiwi wicket-keeper batter, Tim Seifert, is another contributor with the bat, displaying his aggression and pure skills.

The right-handed batter has smashed 1540 runs in 63 innings at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 142.85, shouldering 10 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 97 runs.

Seifert, meanwhile, can open the batting with Virat Kohli and form a potentially successful opening partnership.

If he can play the big shots from the start, then it will be easy for Kohli to play his natural game from the other end. He could be a decent replacement for Phil Salt.

Also Read: Sanjay Manjrekar Goes To War With BCCI For Jasprit Bumrah's Captaincy Announcement

3. KS Bharat (India)

KS Bharat was part of the RCB side in the past, and that has created a different bond between the franchise and the players.

The right-handed batter smacked 191 runs in seven innings in 2021 at an average of 38.20 and a strike rate of 122.43, with the help of the best score of an unbeaten 78 runs.

Bharat is, on the other hand, a solid batter at any position in the batting department and will be a valuable contributor for the side to replace Phil Salt.