RCB’s Phil Salt celebrates after catching Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo)
Phil Salt produced a moment of brilliance on the field to dismiss Ishan Kishan, putting an end to a massive knock in the IPL 2026 opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kishan was batting fluently on 80 off just 38 balls and looked set for a century as he tried to direct a full toss outside off towards the boundary. The ball looked headed for the ropes, but Salt had other ideas. He ran hard to his right from the point, stretched fully and completed a one-handed catch at full reach, resulting in a stunning dismissal that could stand among the best shots of the season.
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This wasn’t the only moment Salt made an impact on the field. Earlier, he was involved in another crucial hunting operation near the border.
Positioned in the middle of the court, he settled under a high ball but fell while completing the throw, raising doubts about whether he had touched the pads. The decision was sent upstairs, and after careful review, the third official ruled it clean, confirming the sending off despite the obvious uncertainty.
Heinrich Klassen, who was fired, appeared unhappy with the ruling as he walked out.Kishan’s innings was the backbone of Hyderabad’s total. He led the side, smashing 80 off 38 balls with eight fours and five sixes, adding 97 runs with Klaassen for the fourth wicket after early setbacks. His aggressive style kept SRH in the competition despite a powerful spell from Jacob Duffy.
However, Salt’s stunning effort shifted the momentum back towards Bengaluru at a crucial moment. With Kishan gone, SRH lost some momentum in the overs and eventually finished on 201 for nine, a total that looked slightly below par given the platform they had built.In a match that marked the return of Indian Premier League action to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Salt’s play stood out as one of the defining moments of the innings.