WATCH: Phil Salt plays crunching upper cut for six off Eshan Malinga in RCB vs SRH encounter

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batters got off to a great start in their IPL 2025 game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). English batter Phil Salt took the attack to the opposition along with former skipper Virat Kohli while chasing 232 runs to win. Salt played an amazing cut shot over the deep backward point for six runs to put RCB in firm control of the chase. 

The incident in question happened on the fifth ball of the sixth over with Eshan Malinga bowling a short ball. Salt, was ready for the ball and played a forceful slash to take the ball beyond the boundary ropes. Virat Kohli, who was at the non-striker's end, was seen giving a pep talk to the English batter. 

சரவெடியா வெடிச்சுட்டாங்க RCB! 💥💥💥

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Earlier in the day, SRH who were asked to bat first scored 231 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets. The best batter for the visiting side was Ishan Kishan who was not out 94 off just 48 balls with seven boundaries and five sixes. The best bowler for RCB was Romario Shepherd, who took two wickets for 14 runs from his two overs. 

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt power RCB to forceful start 

Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli began the chase with a four in the first over bowled by Pat Cummins. The Australian seamer gave away 10 runs as RCB got the perfect start in pursuit of a huge total. After four overs, RCB were placed at 42 for no loss as SRH bowlers were seen under pressure. 

The fifty for the home team came in the fifth over when Salt hit Unadkat for a boundary. Eshan Malinga bowled the final over before the powerplay overs and conceded 17 runs. At this stage, RCB were placed at 72 for no loss still needing 160 runs from 14 overs. Harsh Dubey, who made his debut in the last game, got the big wicket of Kohli in the final ball of his over. 

Virat Kohli tried to cut the ball through the point region but couldn’t keep the bowl on the ground. Abhishek Sharma took an easy catch to give SRH their first wicket of the day. Kohli was out after scoring 43 off just 25 balls with seven boundaries and a six. In the fourth ball of the 10th over, Salt reached his fifty with a boundary off Malinga to the applause of his teammates.