Former India cricketer R Ashwin, while showing sympathy with Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag, has said that his situation could have been completely avoided. This comes after Parag was caught on camera using an e-cigarette in the RR dressing room during an IPL 2026 game against PBKS.
The use of vapes or e-cigarettes is totally banned in India, and Parag courted a huge controversy by being caught doing so in a dressing room. As a result, the BCCI fined him 25 percent of his match fee and imposed one demerit point for bringing the game into disrepute.
Particularly for a player in a leadership position, the experience has prompted concerns about awareness and accountability. Such behavior attracts criticism in a nation where cricket players are viewed as role models, and the fact that it happened on live television only made Parag's situation worse.
R. Ashwin shared his thoughts on the Riyan Parag controversy, and while he refused to harshly criticize the RR captain, he stressed that such incidents are avoidable.
"I think this is totally a situation that could have been avoided. I want players not to get trapped in such things. I don’t really want that for a young player, and this is a little sensitive, too. I think, in all quadrants, if we look at so many things, this could have been avoided. Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin further spoke about the fine line between personal choice and public responsibility and stated that what a player does in his private life is of no concern to others, but matters are different when such things happen in public space.
Parag noted that keeping the line between private and public space becomes even more crucial because he is in charge of a team and is admired by younger cricket players.
“Sometimes what happens is it’s a personal choice, but your personal choice should be in your personal space. If you do all this in a public space, that can very well be avoided. All I would say is this: it's my small advice as an elder brother. I want to tell Riyan Parag that, whatever happens in your personal life, nobody has any concern about it. Nobody can say anything about that. But whatever you do, do it in your personal space, because you are a captain; you are a franchise leader. You are probably an inspiration for many cricketers, many youths, many young Indians, and young people around the world. So, there is some responsibility too," he added.
With a note of empathy, Ashwin softened his stance, recognizing the difficulties faced by young players like Riyan while emphasizing that these circumstances may be prevented.
Ashwin concluded by acknowledging the challenges of contemporary criticism but emphasizing that such instances cannot be ignored, pointing out that there is no opportunity for learning in the absence of action.
"I have my deepest empathy and sympathy for the young kid, but at the same time, I totally believe all these things should and can be avoided. It can’t be easy, man. In today’s world, I also sometimes read things and think, man, I mean, sometimes this happens. I’m not saying these things should be let go under the carpet, because if action isn’t taken, nobody will learn from it. But it is better to avoid these things," he concluded.
