It was a night to savour for Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag after his side ended the Punjab Kings’ unbeaten run at the IPL 2026 on April 28, but a controversial moment caught on camera is likely to have left a sour taste in his mouth.
Chasing a target of 223, Donovan Ferreira (52* off 26 balls) and Shubham Dubey (31 not out off 12 balls) went into ballistic mode in the final six overs, clinching the match with four balls to spare. In fact, it was a combined effort from the RR batters, including Parag (29 off 16), that handed PBKS their first defeat in eight matches this season.
However, soon after his dismissal, the RR skipper was apparently caught vaping on camera inside the dressing room during the 16th over of his team’s chase of 223 in Mullanpur. The clip soon went viral on social media.
Riyan Parag Smoking VAPE in dressing room 🤯 pic.twitter.com/EbIMI5qHxK
— Liam Livingstone (@NightmareOP9) April 28, 2026
According to the IPL disciplinary rules, smoking is strictly prohibited in dressing rooms and stadium premises, except in designated areas. If Parag’s action is deemed a violation of IPL’s code of conduct, he could face a fine or further disciplinary action.
Are e-cigarettes banned in India?
The incident may end up as more than just a breach of IPL regulations. Under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, the production, sale, purchase, import, export and advertisement of e-cigarettes and vapes are banned. Any violation can attract strict penalties, including imprisonment up to one year or a fine of up to ₹1 lakh or both.
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Though the Act does not explicitly list "personal use" or "individual possession" as a crime, the Ministry of Health has clarified that because import and sale are banned, any possession is technically a violation of the Act’s provisions.
On field, too, Parag has been in a spot of bother, scoring only 81 runs in seven innings before the match against PBKS.
Despite the controversy, RR won by six wickets, after Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (43 off 16), who plundered over 50 runs in the first three overs, gave them a flying start. Leggie Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the Punjab bowlers, scalping 3/36. The hosts amassed 222 in their 20 overs earlier, with Prabhsimran Singh (59) and Marcus Stoinis (62 off 22 balls) making useful contributions.
Earlier, RR team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs 1 lakh and given an official warning for using a mobile phone inside the dugout during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on April 10.
BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit issued a show-cause notice to Bhinder over the usage of a device during the match and sought his response within the next 48 hours.
