Phil Salt completes IPL with RCB but skips England vs West Indies T20Is
Published - 05 Jun 2025, 03:49 PM | Updated - 05 Jun 2025, 05:43 PM
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In a surprising yet eyebrow-raising move, England National Cricket Team opener Phil Salt has pulled out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies. Phil Salt was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victorious campaign in the IPL 2025 in India.
Salt was one of the key architects behind RCB’s maiden IPL title triumph. Even the explosive England opener gave his all to the franchise, as he first helped the franchise to qualify for the finals and returned home for the birth of his first child, and then returned to India to play in the IPL 2025 final.
Phil Salt pulls out of West Indies T20Is after winning IPL 2025 with RCB
He reached Ahmedabad only early in the morning of the big clash and was involved in the RCB’s celebrations in Bengaluru. However, after hectic days in India, Salt has taken paternity leave, and he will now spend time at home with his family and his newborn baby.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in an official media release, “England and Lancashire batter Phil Salt has been granted permission to withdraw from the England Men’s IT20 squad for the upcoming three-match Vitality Series against the West Indies. Salt, who is taking time away on paternity leave following the birth of his child earlier this week, will now spend time at home.”
Surrey’s rising star Jamie Smith has been called up as Phil Salt’s replacement for the three-match T20I series against the West Indies, starting on Friday, June 6, at the Riverside Ground in Durham.
Notably, Phil Salt played 13 matches for RCB in the IPL 2025 and scored 403 runs with the help of four fifties at an average of 33.58 and a stunning strike rate of near 176. The Englishman and Virat Kohli’s opening partnerships were key behind RCB’s maiden IPL title win on June 3 in Ahmedabad.
Read Also: Cheteshwar Pujara gets blunt on Virat Kohli’s strike rate debate: "People have been criticizing..."
Harry Brook eager to make mark as England's T20I captain
Meanwhile, after a remarkable debut as ODI captain, Harry Brook is now eager to make a mark as a T20I captain as he is all set to lead the strong 14-member squad in the T20I series against the West Indies.
Under Brook’s captaincy, England whitewashed the Caribbean side in the ODI series 3-0 at home. Now, Brook would be hoping to make his debut as England’s T20I captain memorable, just like the ODIs.
The skipper has the T20I squad, featuring experienced campaigners like Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Adil Rashid, and Will Jacks, alongside exciting young talents like Rehan Ahmed, Jacob Bethell, and Jamie Smith for the home series.
England’s updated squad for the West Indies T20I series:
Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Jamie Smith, and Luke Wood.
Schedule for England vs West Indies T20I series:
June 6: First T20I at Banks Home Riverside, Durham
June 8: Second T20I at Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
June 10: Third T20I at Utilita Bowl, Southampton
After the T20I series against the West Indies, England will host India in a five-match Test series, starting on June 20 in Leeds.
Read Also: RCB in trouble? Karnataka High Court takes strict action on Bengaluru stampede tragedy
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