Phil Salt recounts the emotional moment he rushed back for the IPL final, highlights family’s role

England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt, who represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, shared how his wife convinced him to fly back to Ahmedabad for the final against Punjab Kings, only hours after the birth of their son. Having missed the 2024 final with Kolkata Knight Riders, Salt was determined not to face the same regret and made sure he was part of RCB’s last match.

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he reflected on the demanding schedule and emphasised how crucial his family’s support was.

“Two days before the final I was in Ahmedabad when my wife called to say it was definitely happening. I jumped on the first flight I could,” he recalled.

“Abi kicked me out the door,” he said with a laugh. “She told me, ‘You’ve got to play.’ The choice was really hers, and it was both funny and incredibly selfless,” he said.

After RCB’s Qualifier 1 win over Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh, Phil Salt flew back to the UK to be with his partner for the birth of their son on June 1. In a remarkable turnaround, he returned to India on the morning of the final.

He chipped in with 16 runs from nine balls and pulled off a brilliant catch in the deep, playing a key role in RCB’s maiden IPL title after 18 attempts. The triumph also gave Salt back-to-back IPL championships, having been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ winning campaign in 2024.

Salt said missing KKR’s 2024 final despite his strong season left him unfulfilled, and he was determined not to let the same happen at RCB.

“I missed the IPL final in the previous year, and that was tough because Kolkata Knight Riders went on to win.”

RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, applauded his “unbelievable” commitment, while Virat Kohli jokingly remarked on Instagram: “Now get back to the real job — changing diapers.”

Salt’s 2025 IPL season was memorable. Before the final, he scored 387 runs in 12 matches, at an impressive strike rate of 175.90.