Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has shared updates on the fitness of captain Rajat Patidar and opener Phil Salt ahead of their IPL 2025 fixture against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), scheduled to be played in Lucknow on Friday, May 23.
Patidar sustained a finger injury during RCB’s last full match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3, prior to the team’s one-week suspension. Phil Salt, on the other hand, has missed RCB’s last two completed matches due to illness.
Although both players were expected to return for the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 17, the game was abandoned due to rain before the toss could take place. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on the eve of RCB’s second-last group stage game, Andy Flower provided an update on their availability (as reported by NDTV).
“We are not too concerned about that (break). I think the boys have worked really well over the entire season and they have played some superb cricket throughout the season. Yes, a little break now, but for a couple of our players that has actually been a healthy thing. Rajat Patidar for one has given his right hand a little bit of time to settle after getting quite a bad knock. So, he is fit to bat, which is great.”
He added: “Salt was sick for a while, so it (the break) has given him a little chance to get home. He has recharged his batteries and he is back at full force. Of course, everyone in the competition and all our fans would have wanted the competition to play out as planned, but bigger things were at hand and we have had to roll with that.”
RCB Aim for Top-Two Spot After Securing Playoff Berth
RCB head into their clash against SRH with a clear objective — securing a top-two finish on the points table. With playoff qualification already in the bag and two league matches remaining, their focus now shifts to solidifying their position.
RCB, currently second with 17 points from 12 games, must win their last two matches and preserve a better net run rate than PBKS to stay in the top two. Led by Rajat Patidar, they’re on a four-game winning streak, unbeaten in all six away matches, and the only team to reach the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025.
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