Jitesh Sharma Clarifies Why He Called 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ‘Unprofessional’ 

Playing for India-A under Jitesh Sharma’s captaincy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has a successful 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup campaign.

Jitesh Sharma Clarifies Why He Called 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ‘Unprofessional’ 

Jitesh Sharma clarified why he called Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 'unprofessional'. (via Reddit)

In Short
  • Jitesh Sharma labeled 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as 'unprofessional', sparking debate among fans.
  • Sharma clarified his comments were made affectionately, emphasizing their close personal relationship.
  • Sooryavanshi has emerged as a standout talent in IPL 2026, scoring 404 runs in ten innings for Rajasthan Royals.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru keeper Jitesh Sharma’s comments on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi led a debate, after he strangely labeled him as ‘unprofessional’. Sharma, however, has come to provide context for his remarks, clarifying that they were made out of affection.

Sooryavanshi has been one of the many stars to watch for in IPL 2026, having mesmerized fans with his six-hitting abilities. The young left-hander has proven unstoppable and has hit modern greats like Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins for maximums. So far, he has scored 404 runs in ten innings for Rajasthan Royals, at an average of over 40 and a remarkable strike-rate of 237.64, including a 37-ball hundred for RR, against SRH. 

In sharp contrast to Sooryavanshi’s form, RCB’s Jitesh Sharma has struggled to find rhythm. His numbers reflect a difficult period of form, with just 63 runs scored in nine matches at an average of just 9. Sharma recently stirred a debate after he called Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ‘unprofessional’, in an interaction with the legendary AB de Villiers. The two were discussing the next big star in Indian cricket. 

The comment irked fans on social media, who claimed that Sharma was taking a dig at the young left-hander, who is less than half his age. Clarifying upon his earlier comments, the Baroda-star exclaimed that his comments were rooted in the close personal relationship that he shares with Sooryavanshi.

He noted that while a 15-year-old is ‘professional’ on the field in terms of his technique, he must not be burdened with the demands of disciplinary ‘professionalism’ off the field. Sharma told Mr. Nags:

He [Vaibhav Sooryavanshi] is a very good friend of mine. We are very close, and I can call him anything. 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.

Speaking to RCB’s social media mascot, Mr. Nags, the 32-year-old spoke extensively about the RR batter’s off-field demeanor, as well as how familial and affectionate their bond is. Jitesh Sharma described the 15-year-old as a typical teenager who likes to have ice cream, and mentioned that the Bihar-born talent frequently visits his house to chat with his wife and watch YouTube videos. Sharma even stated that Sooryavanshi is like a younger brother to him. 

He [Sooryavanshi] 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…He visits our house, speaks with my wife, and watches videos on YouTube. We are very close, he’s like my younger brother.

Jitesh Sharma’s comment was, in fact, a compliment for the young batter, who refuses to follow a strict diet. Sooryavanshi will next be seen in action when Rajasthan Royals take on Gujarat Titans on May 8, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. 

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The best uncapped players of IPL 2026: Who else joins Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya?

The 2026 IPL season has seen Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya stand out as the top uncapped talents, demonstrating exceptional run-scoring and power-hitting. They are joined by several others, whose ranks include a good mix of batters, bowlers, and all-rounders.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and other IPL 2026 talents
Priyansh Arya, Ayush Mhatre, Prince Yadav and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have been among the top talents in IPL 2026. (via Indian Express)

Both Sooryavanshi and Arya have been among the tournament’s highest run-getters, with the former having scored 404 runs in ten matches, while the latter has scored over 350 runs in nine matches so far. PBKS’s Prabhsimran Singh has also been impressive with over 300 runs this season. Meanwhile, CSK’s Ayush Mhatre, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026, scored some phenomenal knocks in six games.

KKR’s Angkrish Raghuvanshi, MI’s Naman Dhir, DC’s Sameer Rizvi, and LSG’s Mukul Choudhary have been among the other breakout stars this summer. In bowling, Lucknow’s pace duo of Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan stands on top, with the duo having scalped 22 wickets between them. KKR’s Kartik Tyagi, RR’s Brijesh Sharma, GT’s Ashok Sharma, and RCB’s Rasikh Dar have also been promising.

It remains to be seen who wins the Emerging Player award for IPL 2026. Sai Sudharsan secured the award last season, and in previous years, it has been won by stars, including Rohit Sharma (2009), Sanju Samson (2013), Shreyas Iyer (2015), and Rishabh Pant (2018).

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