Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) remains in a strong position in the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Led by captain Rajat Patidar, the team has delivered consistently brilliant performances throughout the tournament and remains one of the top contenders to secure a spot in the playoffs. RCB has impressed everyone with its balanced performance in both batting and bowling. Virat Kohli has continued his magnificent form in the top order, while the bowling attack—spearheaded by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood—has claimed crucial wickets in high-pressure situations.
The Bangalore franchise is all set to face Mumbai Indians (MI) in Raipur on Sunday, May 10. This match holds immense significance for RCB, as a victory could propel them to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. Ahead of the match, a key update has emerged regarding England opener Phil Salt.
Phil Salt Returns to India for IPL 2026
A video of Phil Salt arriving at the airport is currently going viral on social media. Salt played the first six matches for RCB in IPL 2026, during which he amassed a total of 202 runs. Earlier this season, when Bangalore and Mumbai first locked horns (RCB vs MI), Salt played a magnificent innings of 78 runs. He also scored 63 runs in the previous match against Delhi Capitals.
Phil Salt has returned to India and will undoubtedly play the next match ❤️ pic.twitter.com/7jUeS1Ff3e
— Aman (@cric_cine_med) May 10, 2026
How did Phil Salt get injured?
Phil Salt sustained an injury while fielding during the match against the Delhi Capitals on April 18. While attempting to stop the ball near the boundary, he dived, and in the process, injured a finger on his left hand. The England Cricket Board instructed Salt to return immediately, following which he traveled to England. There, scans were conducted to assess the severity of his injury; now that he has returned, it can be assumed that his injury was not serious.
Will Salt play in the RCB vs MI match?
Although Phil Salt has returned to India, there is very little likelihood that he will play against the Mumbai Indians today. Once again, the team is expected to place its trust in Jacob Bethell, who has not appeared to be in form so far this season. Bethell was brought into the squad as a replacement for Salt and opened the innings alongside Virat Kohli, but he failed to play a substantial innings.
Bethell has scored a total of 43 runs across four innings. From a playoff perspective, today's match is a 'do-or-die' encounter for the Mumbai Indians; if RCB wins today, MI will be officially knocked out of the playoff race. Conversely, if Bengaluru secures a victory today, they will climb to the top of the points table. Bengaluru has won 6 of its 10 matches and has secured a total of 12 points, with a Net Run Rate of +1.234.
RCB vs MI Playing 11
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar
Mumbai Indians (MI): Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Raj Bawa, Hardik Pandya (captain), Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Raghu Sharma
Also Read: IPL 2026 Final Tickets: How to Buy Tickets for Ahmedabad Online, Check Prices
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