RCB mentor Karthik provides update on Hazlewood and Salt's return after duo miss victory over CSK at Chinnaswamy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru pacer Josh Hazlewood and opener Phil Salt sat out of Saturday’s thrilling victory over arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings due to fitness and health issues and mentor Dinesh Karthik expects the two to be available for the team’s next outing this Friday. Hazlewood sat out of the high-scoring thriller at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium due to a shoulder niggle while Salt is yet to recover from an illness that he had developed recently.

“Fingers crossed. We’re hopeful to have Phil Salt and Hazlewood back for the next game,” former RCB wicketkeeper-batter Karthik told Star Sports following his team’s thrilling two-run victory.

Hazlewood has been in red-hot form this season, having collected 18 wickets in 10 matches so far at an average and economy of 17.27 and 8.44 respectively. The Australian pacer, who was briefly in possession of the ‘Purple Cap’, has starred in some of RCB’s most important wins this season including in their victory over the Super Kings at Chepauk, helping the Royal Challengers end a 17-year winless run at the venue with a haul of 3/21.

Hazlewood also bowled a game-changing 19th over in RCB’s 11-run victory over Rajasthan Royals, helping the Rajat Patidar-led side snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

After a brilliant maiden IPL season with Kolkata Knight Riders, England wicketkeeper-batter Salt has formed a successful opening combination with star batter Virat Kohli, filling the position that was left vacant by former captain Faf du Plessis. Salt has been getting RCB to explosive starts more often than not this season, scoring 239 runs in nine outings at a strike rate of 168.30.

Royal Challengers produce an encore of last year’s Chinnaswamy heist

RCB collected their fourth victory on the trot on Saturday and completed a rare season double against Chennai Super Kings by winning a high-scoring thriller at the Chinnaswamy. Kohli (62) and stand-in opener Jacob Bethell (55) struck fifties as did all-rounder Romario Shepherd – who helped the home team finish on 213/5 with an unbeaten 53 off just 14 balls.

Young CSK opener Ayush Mhatre announced himself with a brilliant 94 off 48 in reply, becoming the third-youngest player to score an IPL half-century. Mhatre shared a 114-run third-wicket stand with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 77 off 45 balls to keep the Super Kings in the hunt for the better part of their chase.

Mhatre’s dismissal, however, signalled a shift in momentum. And despite a well-set Jadeja and a legendary finisher in MS Dhoni at the crease for the final over, CSK failed to get over the line. Left-arm pacer Yash Dayal found himself bowling to Dhoni in the final over at the Chinnaswamy for a second year in a row, and once again got rid of ‘Captain Cool’ before bowling his team to victory.