RCB will face GT in Qualifier 1 on May 26 in Dharamshala.
After playing in the first six games of the season, Salt suffered an injury that prevented him from participating in the later portion of the league stage. While RCB chose Jacob Bethell as the opener, he had gone back to England to spend time with his family.
Patidar has revealed that Salt, who returned and rejoined the RCB squad, is fit and is under observation at the moment.
"Salt is fit; he is under observation. But we have not decided yet on our playing XI. We will look at the wicket, and then we will decide,” Patidar said at the pre-match press conference on Monday.
But now that Bethell is out of the IPL 2026 due to an injury, Venkatesh Iyer, who opened for RCB in their most recent game, may accompany him if Salt is out.
With 18 points from 14 games, RCB topped the points table, surpassing GT on net run rate after the two teams’ point totals were tied. While the losing team will get another opportunity through Qualifier 2 on Friday against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, the winner of Qualifier 1 will advance directly to the IPL final.
Patidar said RCB’s focus has remained on earning direct qualification into the final. He also stated that the clash with GT is evenly balanced.
"Win and go to the final. That is the chat we have had from day 1. Topping the table was something we manifested. We will get the rest if we win this match. On the given day, the team that will perform better under pressure, they will win. We just need to hold our nerves," he said.
In the battle of bowling attacks, Patidar backed his team’s bowlers after having an off day against SRH recently. He talked about Bhuvneshwar Kumar who went for over 50 runs against SRH.
"He is an experienced bowler. The last game had not gone the way we wanted, but bowling is our strength, and the way we bowl in the power play, I think that will be very crucial (against GT). So we look for early wickets, and that is what we have done so far. That is what Bhuvi, Hazlewood, and Rasik are doing. So we hope that we continue the same process,” he stated.
(ANI inputs)