Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma has found himself at the centre of an online debate after comments he made about Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The issue began when Jitesh described the teenager as “unprofessional,” sparking reactions on social media—before he later stepped in to explain what he meant and why the remark was taken out of context.
How the comment came about
- Jitesh’s “unprofessional” line was linked to the fact that Sooryavanshi is just 15 years old and still enjoys typical teenage routines such as eating ice cream, watching cartoons, and spending time in a more youthful way.
- The original observation was made by Jitesh during a conversation with RCB legend AB de Villiers on AB’s YouTube channel.
- During that discussion, AB asked Jitesh which young player could grow into an Indian star or a top international performer.
- Jitesh’s immediate reply was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- When AB followed up with “why,” Jitesh pointed to Sooryavanshi’s technique, mentality, and the hard work he brings to the game.
- Jitesh told AB that Vaibhav has the potential to make an impact across all three formats and that, on the field, he appears highly professional.
- At the same time, Jitesh stressed that off the field, the youngster is still very much in his age bracket—something that shaped the way the earlier comment landed with fans.
Jitesh’s clarification on their close bond
On an RCB podcast, Jitesh elaborated that his relationship with Sooryavanshi is close enough that he treats the teenager like family. He said, “He is a very good friend of mine. We are very close, and I can call him anything.”
To explain what “anything” looks like in practice, Jitesh described Sooryavanshi’s day-to-day life in friendly detail. He said the 15-year-old loves ice cream and even comes to Jitesh’s room to eat it with him—while Jitesh doesn’t. Jitesh added that if a youngster isn’t in the mood for ice cream, there is always something else to enjoy, and he also highlighted that Vaibhav visits their home, speaks with Jitesh’s wife, and watches videos on YouTube.
Jitesh summed up the closeness in a simple comparison: the opener is “like my younger brother,” making it clear the remarks were personal and not meant to undermine the player’s ability.
Response to the backlash
Jitesh also addressed the social media reaction directly, insisting that people should allow a young athlete to enjoy being young. He said he understands that professionalism is expected because the youngster has to perform at a high level, but he still remains only 15. His message was clear: let the teenager be a child.
Jitesh said he encourages Vaibhav to stay comfortable around him—so the youngster can be himself without judgement. He even told him to focus on what matters most: “You’re only fifteen. Watch TV, eat whatever you want, and just focus on your batting.”
In the end, Jitesh’s position was that happiness and confidence can coexist with hard work—arguing that Sooryavanshi is better off enjoying his youth while continuing to develop his game.
