The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season has witnessed another major off-field controversy, this time involving the Punjab Kings (PBKS) squad. In a bid to protect the league's reputation and tighten team discipline, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly stepped in and directed star pacer Arshdeep Singh to put an immediate halt to his popular behind-the-scenes travel vlogs.
The strict directive comes in the direct aftermath of a viral clip from Arshdeep's vlog that seemingly caught veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal vaping on a domestic flight.
The controversy erupted when the Punjab Kings squad was travelling from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad for their crucial IPL 2026 clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Arshdeep Singh,
who recently starred for the national team as one of the top three wicket-takers in the 2026 T20 World Cup, has built a massive following by documenting the lighter side of his team's travel.
However, eagle-eyed fans spotted a brief segment in his recent upload where Yuzvendra Chahal, seated alongside teammate Shashank Singh, appeared to conceal a device in his hand, mimic a vaping gesture, and exhale a small puff of smoke before coughing. While the footage was quickly edited and removed from Arshdeep's official YouTube channel, screen recordings had already triggered a firestorm across platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
While some fans have defended the 35-year-old spinner, suggesting he was merely holding a throat spray and pulling a prank for the camera, the optics of the situation have deeply concerned the cricket board, especially given the strict aviation guidelines (DGCA) prohibiting e-cigarettes on domestic flights.
Chahal vaping in flight 🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/aoWVF52qvo
- Juhi (@juhijain199) May 7, 2026
BCCI Tightens the Grip
The BCCI's decision to ban Arshdeep from further vlogging during the tournament acts as a swift precautionary measure. The board has been hyper-vigilant this season regarding player conduct and potential security risks. Coincidentally, just days prior, the BCCI issued a strict seven-page advisory to all franchises outlining protocols against potential honey-traps, restricting unauthorized hotel room visitors, and mandating that players inform Team Managers before exiting hotel premises.
By shutting down the vlogs, the BCCI aims to prevent any further "anomalies" or accidental leaks of dressing room and travel culture that could bring the league into disrepute.
A Season Marred by Vaping Controversies
Chahal's flight incident marks the second major vaping-related controversy of the IPL 2026 season. Earlier in the tournament, Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was caught on camera using an e-cigarette inside the dressing room during a match against the Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. Parag admitted to the offense and was subsequently hit with a massive fine amounting to 25% of his match fee, along with a demerit point.
As the debate rages online regarding whether Chahal was genuinely vaping or simply orchestrating a prank-style dig at the ongoing discourse around cricketer discipline, the immediate casualty is the fans, who will no longer get to enjoy Arshdeep Singh's engaging behind-the-scenes content for the remainder of the season.
