Phil Salt eager to play with Virat Kohli: RCB have always had fiery personalities

IPL 2025: Phil Salt said that he's ready to play alongside Virat Kohli after Royal Challengers Bengaluru RCB) bought him for a price of INR 11.50 crore in the auction that took place in Saudi Arabia.

In Short

• Phil Salt will play for RCB in IPL 2025
• Salt was bought for INR 11.50 crore by RCB
• Salt has also played for KKR and DC in the IPL

England’s Phil Salt sounded excited to rub shoulders with Virat Kohli at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Salt was picked up by RCB at a price of INR 11.50 crore after a bidding war with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). After his stints with the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Knights, Salt is set for his stint with RCB.

Salt talked about his healthy camaraderie with Kohli, who has been with the Bengaluru franchise since the inaugural edition back in 2008. Salt also praised RCB for playing an attacking brand of cricket and recalled the times when he used to watch their matches diligently.

"I've got a tremendous amount of respect for Virat. I've always had a bit of chat with him - and a laugh and a joke - when I've played against him in the past, so I'm looking forward to playing alongside him,” Salt told ESPNCricinfo.

"They've got a very clear way of playing the game which is to go out and attack. They've always had the fiery personalities and their batting line-ups have been world-class.

"They're one of a few teams who, when I was watching IPL years ago, if they were playing, I'd turn the TV on. Obviously they've got Andy there and Mo Bobat [as director of cricket], and I'm really looking forward to playing under them. Having been around them a little bit, I know that we're quite similar thinkers on the game in some ways - and their track record speaks for itself,” Salt added.

Salt has had an impressive career in the IPL, having notched 653 runs from 21 games at an average of 34.36 and a strike-rate of 173.53. Last year, it was his opening stands with Sunil Narine that laid the platform for KKR in their title-winning run.