"I've always had a bit of chat with him - and a laugh and a joke" - Phil Salt keen to play with Virat Kohli at RCB in IPL 2025

Phil Salt, who was sold to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the IPL 2025 auction, is keen to play with Virat Kohli in IPL 2025. The wicketkeeper-batter said he has always enjoyed playing against the former Indian skipper due to his light-hearted nature.

Notably, the Bengaluru-based franchise bought Salt for ₹11.5 crore. They bought him after a bidding war with the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Phil Salt told ESPNcricinfo (via India Today):

"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 had gone unsold at the IPL 2024 auction before being bought as a replacement by the Knight Riders for his base price of ₹1.5 crore. He saw a ₹10 crore price jump after a breakthrough IPL season.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 435 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 182, including four half-centuries. His efforts played a big part in helping KKR win the trophy after a 10-year gap. However, KKR didn't have the purse to retain him.

Phil Salt is likely to open with Kohli since Faf du Plessis has joined the Delhi Capitals (DC), with RCB not using the RTM for the Protea legend.

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“They’ve got a very clear way of playing the game” – Phil Salt praises RCB’s aggressive game

Phil Salt, who is a swashbuckling opener, further lauded RCB for their aggressive gameplay. He said in the same interaction:

"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.”

Salt is also keen to reunite with Mo Bobat and Andy Flower, who were previously associated with the ECB. He said:

"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,” he added.

Players bought by RCB at the IPL 2025 auction:

Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore), Phil Salt (₹11.50 crore), Jitesh Sharma (₹11 crore), Josh Hazlewood (₹12.50 crore), Rasikh Dar (₹6 crore), Suyash Sharma (₹2.60 crore), Krunal Pandya (₹5.75 crore), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (₹10.75 crore), Swapnil Singh (₹50 lakh), Tim David (₹3 crore), Romario Shepherd (₹1.50 crore), Nuwan Thushara (₹1.60 crore), Manoj Bhandage (₹30 lakh), Jacob Bethell (₹2.60 crore), Devdutt Padikkal (₹2 crore), Swastik Chikara (₹30 lakh), Lungi Ngidi (₹1 crore), Abhinandan Singh (₹30 lakh), Mohit Rathee (₹30 lakh).

Players retained:

Virat Kohli (₹21 crore), Rajat Patidar (₹11 crore), Yash Dayal (₹5 crore).