England’s aggressive wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt is relishing the prospect of opening alongside Virat Kohli in IPL 2025. Bought for a staggering ₹11.50 crore by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the mega auction, Salt is expected to be a vital cog in the team’s top order. The dynamic batter shared his thoughts on Kohli’s fierce mindset, calling him a ‘super competitor’ who thrives on battles. The camaraderie between the two could set the stage for an explosive opening partnership, offering RCB a formidable start at the top. While speaking to RCB’s media team, Salt revealed, “Virat Kohli is such a good man. He's so chilled. But for the game, he's a super competitor, he likes to get in this, he likes to fight, he likes battle. We're getting on pretty well, I'm pretty happy alongside batting with him." Salt’s aggressive stroke play complements Kohli’s calculated approach, creating a perfect blend of fire and precision. RCB fans are eager to witness how the duo navigates through IPL’s high-pressure scenarios. As the franchise chases its elusive first IPL title, a strong start from the openers could prove crucial. Read also: KKR vs RCB Live Blog: IPL 2025 Match 1 Score & Key Moments Patidar leads as RCB eye redemption While the spotlight remains on Salt and Kohli, Rajat Patidar will shoulder the leadership responsibility for RCB in IPL 2025. Head coach Andy Flower emphasized the strength of the team’s leadership group, highlighting that many players have prior captaincy experience at various levels. In the pre-match press conference, Flower stated, “A lot of these guys have captained state sides, IPL teams and international teams. So, we're very pleased with that, regardless of who was actually captaining our team this year." RCB’s first assignment is against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 22. The Bangalore-based franchise will seek to overturn its poor record against KKR, having lost 20 of their 34 encounters. Adding to the excitement, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host a grand opening ceremony featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, actress Disha Patani, and singer Shreya Ghoshal. With star power on and off the field, IPL 2025 is set to begin with a bang.