In the opening match of IPL 2026 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Phil Salt showed such magic on the field that everyone was surprised.
Royal Challengers Bangalore star pulls off a breathtaking catch to dismiss Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Ishan Kishan, commentators call it ‘A’ “Catch of the Season” Contender.
That moment came in the 16th over of SRH’s innings, when Kishan was dominating the game. He was batting on 80 off just 38 balls and looked set for an even bigger finish.
Debutant fast bowler Abhinandan Singh bowled a wide full toss outside the off stump and Kishan tried to send it past the point boundary for a six.
What happened next was pure genius. Positioned on point, Salt quickly ran to his right, fully outstretched, and grabbed the screamer with one hand only inches above the ground.
The timing, balance and control made it one of the best catches seen in recent IPL seasons.
watch the video here
🙂 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒! 🛑
🎥 Phil Salt One Handed Screamer on the Ropes 🫡
Do we have the catch of the season on day one? #TATAIPL 2026🤔
Update ▶️ https://t.co/Eo5z0jh4K4 #khelbindaas | #RCBvSRH |… pic.twitter.com/pPax3pVNt9
– IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) 28 March 2026
The dismissal came at a crucial stage, with SRH’s score at 174/4. Kishan’s wicket broke the momentum and slowed the late surge.
His innings, studded with eight fours and five sixes, had put SRH in a strong position before Salt’s intervention.
This was not Salt’s only impact on the field that evening. He took two important catches in the beginning of the innings itself.
He first dismissed Travis Head with a reverse-cup catch at deep backward square leg. Later, he took a boundary-line catch to remove Heinrich Klaasen, which required a lengthy check by the third umpire before it could be confirmed.
Taking three key catches, including a brilliant effort to dismiss Kishan, Salt played a big role in shifting the game in RCB’s favour.
RCB easily chased 202 runs and won by 6 wickets with 26 balls to spare. Devdutt Padikkal’s quickfire 61 and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 69 made the target easier than expected.
Despite Kishan’s strong innings, SRH could not maintain control after losing wickets at important moments.
Salt’s fielding effort proved to be the turning point in the match. His catch not only ended SRH’s momentum but also boosted RCB’s energy on the field, setting the stage for a major run chase.
