It seems all you need to do is add Salt to the mix. If his brilliant openings with Sunil Narine were a feature of Kolkata Knight Riders’ triumphant trail last season, Phil Salt showed on Saturday that his new partnership with Virat Kohli may turn out to be just as hot and impactful in IPL-18.

Providing the perfect launch by adding 95 in 51 deliveries for the first wicket, the duo ensured Royal Challengers Bengaluru would easily chase down the target of 175 that the Englishman’s former team had set for them at the Eden Gardens. “[It was] not a huge score but still a decent total. To get us off to that start was crucial,” Josh Hazlewood said after his team won with seven wickets and 22 deliveries to spare.