Explosive English wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt, who was recently acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a whopping INR 11.50 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, is excited about the opportunity to play alongside Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli.

The 28-year-old, who played a pivotal role in helping Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) win the IPL trophy after a decade, is set to open the batting with Kohli in the upcoming IPL season.

In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Salt expressed his enthusiasm about teaming up with the former Indian skipper:

"I've got a tremendous amount of respect for Virat. I've always had a bit of chat with him - and a laugh and a joke - when I've played against him in the past, so I'm looking forward to playing alongside him."

Salt also praised RCB’s aggressive style of play, noting that their world-class batting line-up and fiery personalities made them one of the teams to watch:

"They've got a very clear way of playing the game, which is to go out and attack. They've always had fiery personalities and their batting line-ups have been world-class."

Having previously worked with Andy Flower and Mo Bobat, RCB's head coach and director of cricket, respectively, Salt believes he shares a similar mindset with them. He’s eager to contribute to the team's success under their guidance:

"They're one of a few teams who, when I was watching IPL years ago, if they were playing, I'd turn the TV on. Obviously they've got Andy and Mo Bobat, and I'm really looking forward to playing under them. I know that we're quite similar thinkers on the game in some ways - and their track record speaks for itself."

Salt's impressive 2024 IPL season saw him score 435 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 182, including four half-centuries, leading KKR to a memorable title win. Despite his success, KKR could not retain Salt due to financial constraints, paving the way for RCB to secure his services.