There are champions, and then there are players who seem to carry the trophy with them wherever they go.
When Royal Challengers Bengaluru completed their title defence, one name quietly stitches itself into a rare corner of IPL folklore — Phil Salt. The Welsh-man has now become part of three consecutive IPL title-winning campaigns, lifting the trophy with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and adding back-to-back crowns with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026.
Also Read: The king in the west: Virat Kohli's stunning chase powers RCB to back-to-back IPL crowns
The irony is delicious. He was a central figure in Kolkata's triumphant 2024 season — Salt's fearless powerplay hitting gave KKR relentless momentum. Yet IPL's auction carousel scattered him to land in Bengaluru and continue collecting silverware.
For Salt, the journey has been particularly symbolic. KKR's explosive opener became one of the most coveted players in the league after their championship run, and RCB's move for him transformed the franchise's batting identity. The Englishman brought aggression at the top, freeing up Virat Kohli and turning Bengaluru into a side that no longer merely entertained but suffocated opponents.
Also Read: Rohit, Dhoni, Hardik: When IPL's biggest names couldn't deliver this season
Three seasons. Three trophies. Two franchises. One remarkable streak.
In a league obsessed with superstars, mega auctions and constant reinvention, Salt has become cricket's version of lucky charms — a player who simply seems to arrive wherever the IPL trophy is destined to go.
