England and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt revealed how a personal call from his wife influenced his decision to fly back to India for the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings, just days after the birth of their child. Having missed the IPL 2024 final with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Salt was determined not to let history repeat itself and ensured he was part of RCB’s title-deciding clash.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Salt recounted the whirlwind few days and how family played a key role in his choice.

“I was in Ahmedabad two days before the final and got a phone call from the missus confirming it was definitely happening,” Phil Salt said. “I got on the plane as quickly as I could. Abi kicked me out the door, basically,” he added with a laugh. “She said, ‘You have to play.’ She made the decision for me, which was very funny—and very selfless of her.”

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Salt had initially flown back to the UK after RCB’s Qualifier 1 victory over Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh to be with his partner for the birth of their son on June 1. Remarkably, he returned to India almost immediately, landing in Ahmedabad early on the day of the final. That evening, Salt contributed 16 runs off nine balls and took a stunning catch in the deep, helping RCB defeat Punjab Kings and clinch their first-ever IPL title at the 18th attempt.

This also marked Salt’s second consecutive IPL triumph, following KKR’s championship win in the previous season. Reflecting on missing the 2024 final with KKR, Salt admitted the experience had left a lingering sense of incompleteness.

.@mroller98 interviews Phil Salt, who reflects on his phenomenal run of form for England and in the IPL, and his desire to improve even further.

Read the full interview here ⤵️https://t.co/2XVrtevVNz pic.twitter.com/K9fTUMRjCT

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 23, 2025

“I missed an IPL final the year before, and that really hurt because we [KKR] went on to win it. I was part of everything leading in, and then to not be part of it did sting a bit. The final this year was a blur until the last over, which I remember second by second. It all happened very quickly. It was really, really special,” he said.

RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, praised Salt for his “unbelievable” commitment, while Virat Kohli jokingly noted on Instagram: “Now go back to the real stuff and get ready for changing diapers.”

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Salt’s IPL 2025 campaign had been stellar. Across 12 matches before the final, he scored 387 runs at an average of 35.18 and a strike rate of 175.90. His unbeaten 56 off 27 balls in Qualifier 1 had already highlighted his match-winning ability. Internationally, Salt has been in sensational T20 form for England, scoring 259 runs off 130 balls against South Africa and Ireland, including a career-best 141 not out in England’s record 304/2 at Old Trafford, marking his fourth T20I century.