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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has made a significant move ahead of the IPL 2025 season by acquiring England’s explosive opener Phil Salt for INR 11.50 crore. This strategic decision was made during the IPL 2025 mega-auction and marks a notable shift in RCB’s lineup strategy.

RCB has released former captain Faf du Plessis, indicating a shift towards a more aggressive opening partner. Phil Salt, aged 28, comes with impressive credentials, having played 38 T20Is for England with three centuries to his name and an outstanding strike rate of 165.

In the previous IPL season, Salt made a remarkable impression with the Kolkata Knight Riders, amassing 435 runs in 12 matches. His performance boasted an average of 39.54 coupled with a striking strike rate of 182.00. This performance undoubtedly played a role in capturing RCB’s interest, aiming to inject a dynamic energy into their top order.

Dinesh Karthik, RCB’s batting coach, has been particularly supportive of Salt’s acquisition, highlighting his prowess during the powerplay with statistical insights. Salt is anticipated to open alongside Virat Kohli, who is expected to resume the captaincy role for the franchise.

RCB’s middle order will see the presence of Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma, further strengthened by Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, and Krunal Pandya. This lineup aims to balance aggression with stability as RCB aims to secure its first IPL trophy.

Besides Salt’s signing, RCB’s actions at the auction were extensive, acquiring a total of 19 players while utilizing most of their available budget. These decisions underscore the franchise’s commitment to constructing a team capable of performing consistently across the season.

Fans can look forward to witnessing the revamped squad play seven home games at Bengaluru’s iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, lending added advantage to their campaign as they seek glory in IPL 2025.

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