On May 26, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Phil Salt made sure to be there for the team’s celebrations after winning the IPL 2024 championship via video chat from the United Kingdom. The England batsman’s batting exploits helped KKR finish first in the points standings.
Phil Salt scored 435 runs with an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 182 in 12 games. While his withdrawal to join the Pakistan national team for the T20Is may have affected the team’s chances, KKR’s bowlers stepped up in the Qualifier 1 and final against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) to fill the vacuum.
Salt sent his best wishes to Varun Chakaravarthy and numerous other KKR players and support personnel as they celebrated the win in Chepauk. The KKR social media feed uploaded a video of the following:
Salt replaced fellow English opener Jason Roy, who had pulled out before the season began. Salt and Sunil Narine, the tournament MVP, created a deadly opening tandem that was responsible for KKR’s multiple quick starts.
Meanwhile, the trophy was KKR’s third in franchise history, placing them clear third after only the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians.
“It was brilliant keeping to Sunny and Varun on spinning wickets” – Phil Salt
Phil Salt was overjoyed with the possibility to restrict the spin twins, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, from turning wickets during the IPL 2024 season.
Renowned as mystery spinners, the two combined for an astonishing 38 wickets at miserly economy rates of 8.04 (Varun) and 6.69 (Narine).
In an interview with the Telegraph, Salt stated:
“Every opportunity I get I work on keeping. It was brilliant keeping to Sunny and Varun on spinning wickets. That was great fun. Sometimes I feel it is a good marker of where your game is at if you are tested at that level.”
Phil Salt
Apart with his outstanding batsmanship, Phil Salt dismissed 12 opponents in the IPL this season.
The daring wicket-keeper-batsman swiftly raked in a thrilling 13 runs from just nine deliveries in his recent appearance at the crease during the second T20I of the EnglandPakistan series. Despite the series opener being washed out England gained a 10 lead by clinching a 23 run victory in the enthralling second T20I encounter.
On Tuesday, May 28, Salt will return to action in Cardiff for the third T20I of the four-match series.