Follow UsJust when Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Priyansh Arya was starting to find his rhythm, Phil Salt took a stunning catch to give Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their first breakthrough in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3 (Tuesday).
Chasing a target of 191, Arya and Prabhsimran Singh added 43 runs in 4.5 overs, with the latter having already been dropped once by Romario Shepherd off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling.
RCB’s Hazlewood came back to bowl the fifth over, and it was on the final delivery, the Australian paceman went short into Arya’s body. The left-hander went for a flick-pull, and it looked like the ball would just clear the deep backward square leg fence.
Salt ran to his right at full speed and had to stretch to complete the catch. The batter from England, however, knew that the momentum would take him past the ropes. That’s when Salt decided to release the ball in the air, went over the ropes, and then came back to finish the catch.
The ball was travelling at a good height, but Salt did a tremendous job to take the catch and give RCB a much-needed breakthrough in the grand finale. If not for Salt, Arya and PBKS would have had six more runs.