After helping RCB clinch the IPL 2025 title with his explosive top-order batting, Phil Salt is showing no signs of slowing down. Fresh off a championship-winning season, he’s now turning heads on the international stage. His latest performance in the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I match wasn’t just another big score; it was historic. And as Salt continues to shine, it’s hard not to revisit a decision that’s looking worse by the day: KKR released Phil Salt.

ENG vs SA 2nd T20I：Record-Breaking Onslaught in Manchester

The England vs South Africa 2nd T20I match at Old Trafford turned into a festival of runs, and Salt was the master of ceremonies. England smashed 304 for 2 in their 20 overs, setting a new team record. The star of the show? Phil Salt, who remained unbeaten on a stunning 141 off 60 balls. At the other end, Jos Buttler joined the party with an 83 from just 30 deliveries.

Fastest ever 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 IT20 ton ✅

His 4th IT20 ton ✅

7th highest ever IT20 individual score ✅ pic.twitter.com/PBOpxRehrH

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 12, 2025

Their 100-run opening stand came up in just the first 6 overs, setting the tone for the night. It wasn’t just brutal hitting; it was calculated, confident cricket. Together, they now account for a third of England’s century opening stands in T20Is. Salt’s century was the fastest ever by an Englishman in T20Is, reaching the milestone in just 39 balls. After the match, Salt said:

“It’s my job to get us off to as good a start as soon as possible and give Jos the opportunity to take a couple of balls, because when he does, he goes on and gets a match-winning score… We bounce off each other well. There’s no ego.”

Even Buttler couldn’t help but heap praise:

“I think Salty’s one of the best players of the first ball and first over.”

It’s hard to argue. Salt’s strike rate of 144.80 in the first over of T20I games is unmatched globally.

YES, SALTY! 🦁

THE fastest England Men’s IT20 century ever! 🏏💥

Phil Salt, take a bow! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fh4UnbyrDV

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 12, 2025

KKR’s Decision That Keeps Ageing Poorly

Let’s rewind a bit. Just last season, Salt was key to KKR’s IPL 2024 title, smashing 435 runs in 12 innings at an average of 39.55 and a terrifying strike rate of 182.01. He contributed over 16% of the team’s total runs, and cost them only ₹1.5 Cr.

So what happened? Well, simply put: KKR released Phil Salt. They tried to get him back during the 2025 mega auction, but when RCB’s bid crossed ₹11.5 Cr, they pulled out. Instead, they picked up Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Here’s how that turned out:

Salt’s exit left a hole in KKR’s top order. In 2024, their top-order average was 34.51 with a strike rate of 176.09. In 2025, post-Salt, it dropped to 25.50 and 146.94. It’s clear that after KKR released Phil Salt, the numbers aren’t letting them forget it.

RCB’s Gain — A Title-Winning Masterstroke

Meanwhile, RCB are laughing all the way to the trophy cabinet. After picking up Salt at the auction, he formed a devastating opening partnership with Virat Kohli, scoring 403 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 175.98. For context, here’s how he stacks up against RCB’s 2024 skipper:

Salt wasn’t just consistent but clutch. A 56 off 27* in the qualifier against Punjab Kings was one of several match-winning knocks. The confidence, aggression, and smart cricket he brings up top have completely transformed RCB’s approach. And again, it all circles back to this: KKR released Phil Salt. And now, RCB look set to retain him long-term.

Salt’s Form：No Fluke, Just Facts

Whether it’s the England vs South Africa 2nd T20I match, Phil Salt in IPL, or domestic tournaments like the T20 Blast and The Hundred, Salt has been one of the most dangerous white-ball openers in the world. Across formats, he’s brought this “attack-from-ball-one” mindset and backed it up with data. He actively tracks his boundary frequency, shot selection, and powerplay impact. He even consults with analysts to get “batting MOTs” to keep improving.

Related Article：Phil Salt to KKR, Venkatesh Iyer to RCB — Trade Talks Getting Serious

Unbelievable performance from Phil Salt 😮‍💨

Jaw-dropping innings from our opener 🫡 pic.twitter.com/VGg3n9TMv8

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 12, 2025

Final Thoughts

In a world where teams obsess over potential, Salt has already proven he’s the real deal. The combination of his aggressive style, calm head, and clear role understanding makes him a rare asset in T20 cricket. England now has a world-class opening duo heading into the T20 World Cup. RCB has its power-hitter locked in. Meanwhile, KKR? Well, they’re left wondering why exactly KKR released Phil Salt in the first place. Sometimes, the writing’s on the wall. This time, it’s also in the runs column.