Phil Salt’s availability for Sunday’s IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is the talking point surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the build-up to the IPL 2026 summit clash.

Salt has been training with the squad and was seen taking part in drills ahead of the final but RCB captain Rajat Patidar has kept his cards close on whether the English opener will feature in the playing XI. The decision on the opening combination will depend on the pitch conditions and the medical team’s assessment of Salt’s fitness in the hours before the match.

RCB vs GT: What Rajat Patidar said at the pre-match press conference for Phil Salt

Patidar was measured and unhurried when the Salt question arrived at his pre-match press conference. He never looked fussed and kept things deliberately open-ended. “Right now he is there with the side. But at the same time he is doing some sort of drills and batting also. And again we have not decided yet. We will see how the doctor and all the management look at it. And we will see what the conditions are tomorrow.”

He had said something similar at an earlier interaction. “Phil Salt is with the side doing some drills. Team doctors are looking at him. We will see the pitch and decide our opening combination.”

The framing is consistent across both interactions. Salt is present, he is participating in drills, the medical team is monitoring him and the final call will be made on the morning of the match based on conditions and clearance.

RCB vs GT: Phil Salt’s injury history and what has happened since April

Salt sustained a finger injury while fielding in RCB’s match against Delhi Capitals on April 18.

He returned to the United Kingdom for further scans and recovery and rejoined the RCB squad towards the end of the league stage but did not play in any of the games following his return.

In his absence RCB used Jacob Bethell as opener but Bethell also picked up a finger injury and was ruled out of the tournament. Venkatesh Iyer was then promoted to open and performed well enough to give Patidar a genuine selection headache heading into the final.

Salt’s IPL 2026 numbers before the injury were strong with 202 runs in six games and two half-centuries and his ability to attack in the powerplay alongside Virat Kohli gave RCB one of the most dangerous opening combinations in the competition during the early part of the season.

RCB vs GT: The selection decision and what it means for the final

The choice between Salt and Iyer at the top of the order is the central tactical question RCB carry into Sunday. Iyer at the top has worked in recent games and disrupting a combination that contributed to the Qualifier 1 win over GT is not a decision Patidar will make lightly.

Salt at full fitness brings a different dimension, his back-foot technique and ability to take pace on at the Narendra Modi Stadium where the true bounce suits his game could be the edge in a final where the powerplay is likely to be decisive.

Patidar’s quiet authority at the press conference suggests he is comfortable with either option and will make the call on Sunday morning with pitch conditions and the medical team’s assessment as the deciding factors.