'Phil Salt should make a comeback but not in place of Venkatesh Iyer' - Mark Boucher ahead of RCB vs GT Qualifier 1

Mark Boucher opined that if Phil Salt is fit and hitting the ball well in the nets, he should play the Qualifier 1 clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday, May 26.

Salt has only been able to play six matches this season, scoring 202 runs at an average of 33.67 and a strike rate of 168.34. He was sidelined due to a finger injury. However, RCB captain Rajat Patidar has confirmed that Salt has regained full fitness, which is welcome news for the defending champions ahead of the playoffs.

After Salt's injury, Venkatesh Iyer got a regular place in the side and has done well, both in the middle order and as an opener. Boucher backed Salt and Iyer to play Qualifier 1 and suggested that Jitesh Sharma should make way. Jitesh has had a forgettable campaign, scoring 90 runs in 10 innings at an average of 10 and a strike rate of 118.43. Boucher also mentioned the England wicketkeeper's prowess against fast bowling, which could come in handy against the Titans, who have in-form seamers like Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada in their ranks.

"If he's hitting the ball well, and he's got no injury, then the question would be posed. You don't get rid of Venkatesh Iyer, he's in good form and you want to run with that. He doesn't have to open the batting; he can also bat a little bit further down the order. Would you then look at Jitesh, who's maybe been a little bit out of sorts, and let Salt come in and keep, and that's the change that you make?" Boucher wondered during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo Timeout.

"Salt's match winner to fast bowling. GT have been really good with Siraj and Rabada picking up wickets. Have RCB got someone in their squad who can take those bowlers on? Yes, they have, Phil Salt. If he's feeling very good and he's hitting it sweet in the nets, I'd be itching to try and lay him at the GT bowling," he added.