Bengaluru: Just when Royal Challengers Bengaluru were celebrating a comfortable five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday night, a fresh storm erupted — this time on social media.
In the middle of the high-voltage IPL 2026 clash, Instagram stories suddenly appeared on RCB wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma’s official account. The posts, which referenced his batting performance during the ongoing match, left fans shocked and sparked heated debate across cricket circles.
Jitesh, who came in as Impact Player and smashed a quickfire 23 off just 9 balls (including two fours and two sixes), played a handy role in RCB’s easy chase of 147. The defending champions cruised home in 15.1 overs. Yet, instead of only praising his aggressive knock, the talk quickly shifted to the timing of those Instagram stories.
IPL rules are crystal clear — players are strictly barred from using mobile phones in the dressing room or on the field during live matches. This isn’t the first such incident; just days ago, Rajasthan Royals faced similar heat when their manager was caught on camera with a phone in the dugout.
Questions are now flying thick and fast: Did Jitesh himself post the stories? Or was it handled by his family, manager, or social media team? As of late Wednesday night, neither RCB management nor the BCCI had issued any official statement. Many believe an investigation is likely, and if found guilty, the 30-year-old could face strict action.
Jitesh has been a key figure for RCB since last season, playing a big part in their maiden IPL title win in 2025. But his form this year had been ordinary before this match. The controversy has now added an unwanted twist to what should have been a straightforward night of celebration for the home side.
Cricket fans are watching closely — will this mobile phone drama end in a simple clarification or turn into another big IPL headache?
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