RCB’s IPL 2026 Dream Team: Jaffer Axes Salt for Bethell
1 min read
Wasim Jaffer continues to captivate with his visionary IPL team picks, this time overhauling Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s squad for 2026. In a jaw-dropping call, he omits Phil Salt – the detonator behind RCB’s first IPL crown – in favor of Jacob Bethell opening with Virat Kohli.
The snub traces to T20 World Cup 2026: Salt floundered with 130 runs in eight inns (one fifty), while Bethell dazzled, smashing a century in the India semi-final. Salt’s IPL 2025 fireworks – 403 runs, four fifties, 33.58 avg, 175.98 SR in 13 matches – weren’t enough to sway Jaffer.
Unpacked in an X video, the batting flows: Kohli-Bethell, Rajat Patidar (capt) three, Venkatesh Iyer four, Tim David five, Jitesh Sharma (keeper-finisher) six. Shepherd and Krunal Pandya all-round, pacers Kumar, Thushara, Dayal, impact Suyash Sharma.
XI: Kohli, Bethell, Patidar (c), Iyer, David, Sharma (wk), Shepherd, Pandya, Kumar, Thushara, Dayal. Impact: Sharma.
Jaffer’s masterclass in selection underscores momentum’s primacy, fusing veterans like Kohli and Bhuvi with fresh blood. For RCB faithful, it’s a tantalizing preview of potential title-defending glory.
