Big blow! Parag in trouble over controversial act

• A video shows RR captain Riyan Parag using a vape in the dressing room
• E-cigarettes are illegal in India and violate stadium security rules
• The match referee may issue reprimands, fines, or a suspension

Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag was captured using a vape in the team dressing room during the match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur on Tuesday (April 28). A video

of the moment, caught during the 16th over in the second innings, has gone viral on social media.

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While no single line in the official IPL Code of Conduct specifically mentions the word vaping, e-cigarettes are completely illegal in India under national law. Vaping and the use of e-cigarettes were strictly illegal in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019. Because using them is illegal, doing so on stadium property could be considered a serious offense.

Additionally, stadium security rules designate all IPL venues as non-smoking public areas. Players and officials are screened at the gates and are not allowed to bring lighters, matches, or any electronic smoking devices into the arena.

Watch it here, as uploaded by a user on social media:

Breaking these rules could be seen as an act that brings the game into disrepute under the law 2.2 of the IPL Code of Conduct for players and officials. The Match Referee can hand out official reprimands, deduct a portion of the player’s match fees, or even issue a suspension.

The Rajasthan Royals are already under scrutiny

This incident comes after RR’s best win of IPL 2026. Visiting the home of the only undefeated side in the league, the Punjab Kings, RR won by six wickets, chasing down 223 in the last over. Parag scored 29 off 16.

But as RR jumped to the third spot in the points table, they have added another off-field controversy to their CV. Earlier in the season, team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using his mobile phone in the team dugout during a live match, with teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sitting beside him.

That was a clear violation of the IPL rules and Bhinder was fined and warned, even though he cited medical grounds to defend himself.