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Phil Salt Ignites Wankhede with Blazing 78 Off 36 — Can MI Chase the Massive Target in IPL 2026?

Phil smashed Salty, spicy, and absolutely explosive 25-ball FIFTY

Phil Salt Ignites Wankhede with Blazing 78 Off 36 — Can MI Chase the Massive Target in IPL 2026?

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Sports League Season

Modified April 12, 2026 . 10:23 IST - 4 min read

Phil Salt’s Explosive Knock of 78 (36) Sets Wankhede Ablaze
The English opener’s blistering innings provided RCB with a platform that no bowler could contain, enabling the Challengers to post a mammoth total of 240/4 against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede.

If Phil Salt’s innings at the Wankhede tonight had to be described in a single word, it would be ‘havoc.’ The English opener walked out to bat and immediately shifted into top gear; he treated the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack, which featured bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and Hardik Pandya, as if he were playing in a park.

“Salt didn’t just bat, he asserted his dominance from the very first ball. Six sixes, six fours, and a strike rate of 216.67 off just 36 deliveries. This wasn’t luck. It was a calculated, premeditated demolition.”

Salt’s 78 runs were scored at a blistering pace. Partnering with Virat Kohli, he unleashed a whirlwind of batting during the Powerplay; together, the duo forged a crucial opening partnership of 120 runs off just 65 balls. This partnership laid the foundation for the entire match that followed. Even Bumrah, who conceded 35 runs without taking a wicket, could not stem Salt’s aggressive intent right from the very first delivery.

His dismissal, caught by Hardik Pandya off Shardul Thakur’s bowling in the 11th over, finally brought some relief to the MI dugout. But by then, the damage had already been done. Salt had provided RCB with the momentum they needed to reach the formidable score of 240. A Spectacular Batting Display by RCB

Salt’s explosive innings were just the beginning.

Virat Kohli anchored the innings magnificently from the other end, contributing a composed 50 runs off 38 balls. Then came Rajat Patidar, RCB’s captain, who played a stunning knock of 53 runs off just 20 balls (SR: 265.00), smashing 5 sixes further to accelerate RCB’s scoring rate in the death overs.

Tim David finished the innings emphatically, scoring an unbeaten 34 off 16 balls, including three sixes. RCB’s total score of 240/4 stands as their joint-highest total of this IPL season, and it ranks as one of the finest batting performances ever witnessed at the Wankhede Stadium. The team’s tally of 15 sixes throughout the innings electrified the crowd.

Even the legendary Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as perhaps the world’s finest bowler, failed to take a wicket and conceded 35 runs; this serves as a testament to just how formidable RCB’s batting performance was. Markande bore the brunt of the assault, leaking runs at an economy rate of 20 runs per over.

The task has now become incredibly difficult for the Mumbai Indians. At a score of 61/0 after 5.4 overs, they are scoring well, with Ryan Rickelton looking quite dangerous at the top of the order, but the required run rate has already soared above 12.5. Rohit Sharma retired hurt after scoring 19 runs, dealing a major blow to MI’s chase right in its early stages. For RCB, the next major challenge now lies in containing Suryakumar Yadav.

To defend this total, RCB will need to take 10 wickets within the remaining 14 overs. Salt’s innings have infused the team with tremendous energy and confidence; consequently, the Challengers will be fully optimistic about securing a victory tonight. This match remains thoroughly exciting, but Phil Salt’s innings of 78 (36) has all but sealed the outcome of this evening’s contest. Simply put, this was one of the most thrilling T20 innings of this IPL season.

Mumbai Indian chasing the score, Hardik Pandya (c) not out 26 (13b) and Surya Kumar Yadav not out 29 (19b)

MI need a massive 126 runs off just 50 balls at a required rate of 15.12, which is a mountain to climb. Suyash Sharma has been the wrecker-in-chief, picking up both Rickelton and Tilak Varma. SKY and Hardik Pandya are the last recognised batting pair at the crease, and MI will need something truly special from both of them to pull off one of the great IPL chases.

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