IPL 2025: “Virat Kohli Likes to Fight” – Phil Salt on his RCB Teammate
Phil Salt praised Virat Kohli, calling him a fierce competitor on the field and a great teammate off it, as he prepares for his first IPL season with RCB.
England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt has praised Virat Kohli ahead of IPL 2025. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) recruit described the former Indian captain as a tough competitor on the field and a good person off it.
Excited to Bat with Kohli
Phil Salt joined RCB for ₹11.50 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. He is expected to open the innings alongside Virat Kohli. Salt is excited about this partnership and has already developed a good rapport with Kohli.
“Virat Kohli is such a good man. He’s so chilled. But for the game, he’s a super competitor. He likes to fight, and he likes to battle. We’re getting on pretty well, and I’m happy to bat alongside him,” Salt said.
Strong IPL 2024 but a Tough Champions Trophy
Salt had a great IPL 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He scored 435 runs in 12 matches, forming a strong opening pair with Sunil Narine. However, KKR did not retain him before the IPL 2025 auction.
His recent form has not been great. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, he struggled with scores of just 10, 12, and 8 while opening for England. England also finished the tournament without a win.
RCB’s Title Hopes
Phil Salt joins fellow England players Jacob Bethell and Liam Livingstone at RCB. The franchise is still searching for its first IPL title after finishing as runners-up three times. With a strong squad this year, RCB fans hope that 2025 could finally be their year.
