Recently, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma stirred up some chatter by calling Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unprofessional.
This comment was sparked by the young player’s age and his playful habits, like indulging in ice cream and watching cartoons at just 15 years old.
The remark ignited a bit of controversy on social media. However, Jitesh later took the time to clarify during an RCB podcast that his words were meant in a lighthearted way, reflecting the close friendship he shares with Sooryavanshi and acknowledging the reality of being so young in a professional setting. He elaborated on this during a chat with AB de Villiers on the latter’s YouTube channel.
"He is a 15-year-old kid who loves ice cream. He comes to my room and eats it with me; I don't eat it, but he does. If a child doesn't want ice cream, what else would they have? He visits our house, speaks with my wife, and watches videos on YouTube. We are very close-he's like my younger brother,” said Jitesh on RCB podcast.
Jitesh brushed off the social media backlash, stressing that Sooryavanshi should be free to enjoy his youth, even while under the professional spotlight.
"I don't care what people say. There is a lot of professionalism expected of him because he has to perform at this level, but he is still only 15. Let a child be a child. When he is with me, he can be himself because I don't judge him. I tell him, 'You're only fifteen. Watch TV, eat whatever you want, and just focus on your batting.' He's happy that way,” said Jitesh.
As for their performances, Jitesh has scored 63 runs in seven innings with a strike rate of 112.50. On the other hand, Sooryavanshi is having a stellar season, racking up 404 runs in 10 innings at an average of 40.40 and an impressive strike rate of 237.64, which includes one century and two half-centuries.
Looking ahead, RCB is set to face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 7 in Lucknow, while RR will go up against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 9 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
Jitesh Sharma made it clear that his comments were meant to be friendly and supportive of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, reminding everyone that young players should relish their youth. As both continue their IPL journeys with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, fans are eagerly anticipating their upcoming matches, focusing on their performances.