Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore have performed quite well so far in the 2026 Indian Premier League. They currently sit in second place on the points table, having won six of their nine matches. The tournament is now entering its decisive phase, and from this point onward, every match is crucial. At precisely this juncture, RCB has suffered a major setback, as their star opener, Phil Salt, has returned to the UK for medical scans. Notably, Salt sustained a finger injury during the match against the Delhi Capitals.
Consequently, Salt has missed the last few matches, and RCB has given Jacob Bethell the opportunity to open the innings alongside Virat Kohli. While Bethell has shown glimpses of his potential, he has not yet been able to fully capitalize on the opportunities he has received. Given this situation, should Salt be ruled out of the tournament, RCB may consider bringing in a replacement player to join the squad.
Players who could replace Phil Salt in RCB following his withdrawal
1. Jonny Bairstow
Over the course of his six IPL seasons, Jonny Bairstow has played for three different franchises. He has played 52 matches and scored 1,674 runs at a strike rate of 146.07. Bairstow has two centuries and nine half-centuries to his name in the IPL. He has played several match-winning innings in this tournament. MI signed him as a replacement player in 2025, during which time he played two magnificent innings. However, no team acquired him in the IPL 2026 auction, as franchises prioritized other options. Nevertheless, he could prove to be an excellent replacement for Salt, as he possesses capabilities similar to his.
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the Afghan player who went unsold in the IPL 2026 auction. Rahmanullah spent three seasons (2023–2025) with KKR; however, he did not receive many opportunities to play in the top order. Against this backdrop, his performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup was quite successful. He was selected for the PSL 2026 but subsequently withdrew his name from the league. Gurbaz is an experienced player who has played in numerous franchise leagues and can also make a significant contribution to the team through his wicketkeeping skills.
3. Jake Fraser-McGurk
Young Australian wicketkeeper Jake Fraser-McGurk had a sensational debut season in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals in 2024. He scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 234.04, including four half-centuries. Thanks to this stellar performance, he also earned the opportunity to make his T20I debut for Australia. However, he was unable to sustain this momentum at the international level. Furthermore, his performance in the 2025 IPL was lackluster, leading to his release from the team. Subsequently, he failed to find a buyer in the 2026 IPL auction.
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