Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old batting prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shared a playful, light-hearted exchange with Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma on the eve of their IPL 2026 clash on Friday. The moment, captured in a video that quickly spread across social media, showed Jitesh teasing Vaibhav after spotting him with his bat and then cheekily thanking him for something the teenager had done. Vaibhav’s quick reply—“Arey bhai ohh, aap kyu kar rahein ho?”—set the tone for a friendly back-and-forth that kept fans entertained.
Viral banter: bat, teasing and a quick reply
In the clip, Jitesh is seen holding Vaibhav’s cricket bat and addressing the youngster in a humorous manner. Vaibhav, in response, questions why Jitesh is doing it—an instant reaction that drew laughter. The interaction then moved beyond the two players as Vaibhav briefly spoke with RR team manager Romi Bhinder.
During that short chat, Vaibhav explained that he had passed on a “trick” and that Jitesh was now trying it out on him. He also suggested that while there are plenty of batters in the opposing setup, the attention was somehow landing on him. Jitesh, meanwhile, continued to tease with another playful line: “Kyu maangu yaar, kya maanga, ek ko bhi puch ke bata maine maanga toh,” asking why he should request anything and insisting he should be told if he had asked anyone else.
The exchange reached a peak when Jitesh pressed the point further—prompting Vaibhav to react with an offer that he would give his bat. Sooryavanshi then added that he had already mentioned he would hand it over after the IPL, but Jitesh’s insistence meant he wanted it immediately.
Match setup: toss, venue and team changes
After the pre-match fun, attention shifted to the contest. Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to field first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 16 of the Indian Premier League 2026. The game took place at Baraspara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Friday.
Both sides made alterations to their playing XIs. Rajasthan Royals brought Brijesh Sharma into the squad, replacing Tushar Deshpande. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, strengthened their pace options by bringing back Josh Hazlewood, with Jacob Duffy making way.
Captains’ take: pitch expectations, planning and the rain interruption
Riyan Parag said the pitch was expected to play dry, though he cautioned that rain could leave some early moisture. He stressed that the team remains focused on executing its strategy, highlighting that they are approaching the match with clarity and discipline. Parag also noted that he is comfortable with having less personal involvement as long as the openers keep producing strong performances at the top.
RR captain Parag framed the situation like this: they were set to bowl first, and while the wicket was supposed to be dry, rain had already started, meaning there would be some moisture. The plan, he added, was to make the most of the surface conditions.
Rajat Patidar, leading RCB, spoke about the energy around the venue, saying the crowd support is making it feel like a home match for his side. He also confirmed that Duffy missed out because Josh Hazlewood came into the lineup, calling Hazlewood an experienced addition. Patidar also acknowledged that Duffy had bowled brilliantly in the previous two matches.
However, just as the captains were speaking, rain returned and interrupted proceedings, cutting short the momentum after it appeared the weather had improved.
Patidar then elaborated on the situation, thanking supporters for making the atmosphere feel like a home ground. He reiterated that Duffy was unavailable for this game and that Hazlewood has been included in his place. Patidar also underlined that Duffy’s recent performances were impressive, and that with Hazlewood’s experience, the team would be in a strong mindset to move forward.
