Phil Salt has been MVP for KKR in IPL 2024
Phil Salt continued his red-hot form in IPL 2024, smashing a 33-ball 68 to power Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Eden Gardens.
Salt’s knock was a masterclass in power-hitting, particularly during the powerplay. He tore into the DC bowling attack, accumulating 60 runs in the first six overs with seven fours and four sixes. This aggressive approach helped KKR reach a staggering 79 runs in the powerplay, their fifth time this season reaching the 75-run mark in that phase.
“It’s certainly risky at times,” Salt admitted after the match, “but it’s about giving yourself the best chance to win. As an opener, you have to find that balance between calculated aggression and avoiding unnecessary risks. There will be times when it doesn’t come off, but you have to trust your instincts and keep going for those scoring opportunities.”
Salt targeted specific bowlers, taking down Lizaad Williams for 15 runs in the first over and then unleashing on Khaleel Ahmed in the final powerplay over, hammering three fours and a six. He dominated the strike during this period, facing 28 of the 36 balls while his partner, Sunil Narine, played a supporting role.
Partnership Between Salt and Narine has been prolific for KKR
Their partnership proved to be a match-winner. They brought up their fifth fifty-plus opening stand in just 26 balls, extending their record-breaking season as a duo.
Their 79-run partnership is the highest opening stand for KKR this IPL, and their combined total across nine innings is a staggering 485 runs – the most by any opening pair in the tournament this year. Their scoring rate of 12.43 is also the second-highest for any opening partnership with at least five outings together.
“We complement each other really well,” explained Salt. “We focus on giving each other the strike when one of us is in good touch. There’s not a lot of talking required on the field; most of our planning happens the day before. Sunil’s experience is invaluable. He keeps things simple but thinks deeply about the game. It’s fantastic to have him alongside me.”
This dominant opening partnership has significantly eased the burden on KKR captain Shreyas Iyer. “Phil is incredibly engaged,” Iyer said. “He actively participates in team meetings and is always eager to learn. Seeing him come out and perform like this is a real joy for the team.”
With Salt in such destructive form and the Narine-Salt duo rewriting the record books, KKR look poised for a strong finish to IPL 2024.
