Phil Salt Breaks Silence on His On-Field Equation With Virat Kohli During IPL 2025

England opener Phil Salt has opened up about his on-field chemistry with Virat Kohli during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) triumphant IPL 2025 campaign, revealing that their partnership clicked instantly from the pre-season camp and evolved into a game-changing alliance at the top of the order. Acquired by RCB for a hefty Rs 11.5 crore in the mega auction after a bidding war with his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)—with whom he won the IPL in 2024—Salt's aggressive powerplay starts alongside Kohli were instrumental in ending RCB's long-standing title drought, providing the platform for middle-order fireworks that propelled the team to glory.

In a candid episode of the RCB podcast released on Monday, Salt emphasized the importance of mutual understanding in an opening duo, stating, "It's always important to have a strong relationship with whoever you're opening with. You need to understand how they play, and they need to understand your game too, so that you can bring the best out of each other." He added that their dynamic sometimes involved explicit discussions on strategy, while at other times it flowed organically, adapting to the "moving picture" of T20 demands. Salt amassed 403 runs in 13 matches at a blistering strike rate of 175.98, often playing the aggressor to take the heat off Kohli, who anchored the innings with his trademark consistency.

The duo's synergy was evident from the season opener against KKR at Eden Gardens, where they stitched a 95-run stand, setting the tone for RCB's dominant chase. Salt highlighted a pivotal early clash against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk—RCB's first win there since 2008—as a turning point, crediting clear role clarity: his explosive starts complemented Kohli's calculated accumulation. "The partnership hasn't been something we've batted much together before, but to go out there and put one on was really pleasing," Salt reflected post-match, underscoring how RCB's management had been upfront about his role as the "fire-starter" to pair with Kohli's experience.

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Salt's comments also touched on the broader team ethos that fueled RCB's success under new captain Rajat Patidar, dismissing individual accolades like the Orange Cap in favor of collective wins. "Cricket now demands a far more attacking style... but for me, everything is centered around how we win as a team," he said, echoing Kohli's own philosophy. The Englishman expressed immediate affinity for RCB's "brand of cricket" upon his auction selection, calling it a franchise he felt "suited" his high-octane style, and praised Kohli as a "super competitor" whose intensity he admired from afar.

Interestingly, Salt's revelations come amid lighter moments from the season, including a viral clip where he jokingly labeled Kohli a "colleague" rather than a friend—referencing his own quip about "no friends in the IPL"—before quickly clarifying with a U-turn: "Everyone I've played with is my friend; I just didn't want to give extra ammunition." This banter highlighted the easy rapport that extended off the field, with Salt noting their pre-camp bonding sessions helped translate into seamless on-pitch telepathy.

As RCB gears up for title defenses and Salt eyes more international T20I action with England, his IPL 2025 reflections serve as a testament to how blending youth aggression with veteran nous can rewrite narratives—proving that even in the high-stakes IPL, strong partnerships are built not just on runs, but on respect and adaptability.

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