Phil Salt makes brutally honest confession about KKR after demolishing them in season opener

RCB opener Phil Salt admitted that there are no friends in the IPL, following his brilliant display against his former team KKR.

Phil Salt makes brutally honest confession about KKR after demolishing them in season opener

Phil Salt admitted that there are no friends in the IPL, following his brilliant display for RCB against his former team, KKR. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener Phil Salt made a brutal yet honest admission about his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, after defeating them in the IPL season opener. Salt confidently exclaimed that there are no friends in the IPL, when playing against former sides.

Phil Salt was an important player in KKR’s IPL triumph last season, despite having joined the team only as a replacement for fellow Englishman Jason Roy. Salt went on to have a stellar season, scoring 435 runs in just 12 innings at an average of 39.55, and a strike rate of 182.01. His batting heroics for KKR attracted suitors ahead of the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, as he was picked by the RCB at INR 11.5 crores.

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However, the 28-year-old has been inconsistent for the England national side over the past year. Despite the challenges, Phil Salt seems to have regained form, as he resumed with the hitting for his new team in the season opener. Moreover, RCB played the first match of the season against defending champions KKR at the Eden Gardens, a venue quite favorable for Phil Salt.

The home side posted a competitive total of 174 runs on the board, thanks to a fifty by Ajinkya Rahane. However, the visitors, chased down the target in just 16.2 overs, winning by seven wickets. Phil Salt and Virat Kohli stitched a brilliant 95-run partnership at the top. Kohli hammered an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, while the Englishman, facing his former side, played an impressive knock of 56 runs off 31 balls.

Speaking after the match, Salt was questioned about his new role. The 28-year-old was happy to have developed a good working relationship with Virat Kohli, even though they haven’t spent a lot of time batting together. While talking about facing his former side, Salt acknowledged his familiarity with Eden Gardens and its pitch, and highlighted his advantage of having previously played with the KKR bowlers.

Probably the partnership… we [him and Virat Kohli] haven’t batted much together, and to go out there and put a partnership was really pleasing. It is a ground I know, and I know these guys [KKR] very well.

Phil Salt said

Salt explained that success at Eden Gardens requires a steady stance and aggressive hitting. Expressing his pleasure with the match’s outcome, the 28-year-old also recalled his time with KKR last season. However, the Englishman admitted that there are no friends in the IPL, hinting that friendships do not hinder a player’s performance against their former team, noting the competitive nature of the league.

Had a great time here last year and won the trophy. Obviously, there are no friends out there [in this league].

Phil Salt on his former team KKR

Meanwhile, the wicket-keeper batter made his former team pay for the decision of not retaining him by smashing one of KKR’s most important bowlers. Phil Salt hit Varun Chakravarthy for 20 runs in the fourth over. It was much before the spinner dismissed him in the ninth over.

Krunal Pandya’s performance unexpectedly outshines Virat Kohli and Phil Salt in IPL opener

RCB kicked off their 2025 IPL campaign on a winning note, as they cruised to a comfortable seven wicket victory over defending champions KKR in the season opener. All-rounder Krunal Pandya was the unexpected Man of the Match, as he ended with bowling figures of 3/29 in four overs.

Krunal Pandya RCB KKR MOTM
Krunal Pandya won the Man of the Match award during RCB vs. KKR, overshadowing Virat Kohli and Phil Salt’s display. (via X)

Krunal Pandya’s produced the very turning point that led his side to victory. Despite being hammered for 15 runs in his first over, Pandya bounced back and claimed three wickets in quick succession. He first dismissed KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane, caught out at deep backward square leg. Pandya then took the crucial wickets of Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh, bowling them out with his sharp turn.

KKR’s batting lineup collapsed, as they eventually posted just 174 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs. After Krunal Pandya’s impressive showing, the match was dominated by the RCB openers, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli.