Riyan Parag escapes ban for vaping during IPL match, fined by BCCI

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has escaped serious action from the Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers after being caught vaping in the dressing room during Tuesday's match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.

Parag has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for a breach of the IPL Code of Conduct, classified as a Level 1 offence. He is set to be penalised for bringing the game into disrepute.

The incident was reported to the match referee by the umpires after visuals emerged of the captain vaping during Rajasthan’s run-chase.

"Riyan Parag, Captain, Rajasthan Royals, has been fined 25% of his match fee and has also accumulated one Demerit Point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during Match No. 40 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Punjab Kings," IPL said in a statement on Thursday.

"Riyan was found to have breached Article 2.21 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute.”

The statement further confirmed that Parag had admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the Match Referee, Amit Sharma.

It also said the board is looking to tighten its rules and take action against players and officials to ensure the reputation of one of the most-followed sporting leagues remains intact.

"The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials and player/s to ensure that the reputation of IPL remains intact," it added.

A Level 1 offence is the lowest



category of breach, typically covering on-field outbursts, excessive celebrations, or minor dissent. Such infractions usually result in a fine of up to 50 per cent of the match fee and one demerit point.

The controversy erupted during the 16th over of Rajasthan’s pursuit of 223, a match they eventually won by six wickets. Despite the victory, the spotlight shifted to Parag’s conduct as the footage quickly went viral on social media.

The incident sparked immediate outrage online, with fans and observers calling on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a firmer stand. Many highlighted that as a senior professional and team leader, Parag’s actions set a poor example for younger players in the squad, including 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Critics also pointed out that vaping is prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, which bans the production, sale, and use of such devices.

Social media users have urged the BCCI to enforce stricter disciplinary measures, arguing that a mere fine fails to address the gravity of a legal and ethical breach within a shared team environment.

This marks the second protocol violation for the Rajasthan Royals this season, following a recent incident where team manager Romi Bhinder was fined for using a mobile phone in the dugout.

While Rajasthan Royals have endured a controversial first half off the field, the former champions have delivered on it. They currently sit in the top four of the 10-team points table with 12 points from nine matches. The Rajasthan Royals will next face the Delhi Capitals in Jaipur.