Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Riyan Parag was allegedly caught vaping in the dressing room during his team’s IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 28).
The moment was captured during the 16th over of RR’s successful 223-run chase. After being dismissed for 29 off 16 balls, Parag was seen on camera inhaling from an electronic device and exhaling smoke while seated with teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel.
The clip quickly went viral on the internet, triggering significant backlash regarding player discipline and legal compliance.
Reaction to the incident, former international umpire Anil Chaudhary cautioned young cricketers to be careful with their conduct during high-profile tournaments.
"I do not know the legal aspects, but certainly, government rules and other regulations will be there. Sometimes these cameras can go anywhere, so all players should be very careful. These are young lads; they do not know that sometimes they can be caught anywhere except the toilet, so boys should be careful. I think on TV, good things should be shown, and we should discuss the game rather than other things," Chaudhary told IANS on the sidelines of the EUT20 Belgium jersey launch.
While the BCCI and tournament authorities have not yet issued an official statement, Parag faces scrutiny on two fronts -- IPL Disciplinary Protocols and Legal Regulations.
IPL regulations strictly prohibit smoking and the use of tobacco-related products in dressing rooms and stadium premises, except in designated zones.
As for the legal regulations, electronic cigarettes and vapes are banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. This act prohibits the production, sale, and use of such devices, with violations carrying potential fines or imprisonment.
Under Indian law, the offender faces up to one year of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh for a first-time offence.
Coming to the match, Rajasthan Royals ended Punjab Kings' unbeaten streak as they emerged victorious by six wickets.
Chasing a formidable target of 223, the Royals reached home with four deliveries to spare, driven by an explosive start from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (43 off 16) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27), followed by a 77-run stand between Donovan Ferreira (52* off 26) and Shubham Dubey (31* off 12).
This was RR’s sixth win in nine games this season. Currently holding third spot in the team standings, they will next face Delhi Capitals on May 1 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
