Rajasthan Royals’ momentum from their six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Mullanpur has been interrupted by a fresh off-field dispute, after broadcast footage appeared to show captain Riyan Parag vaping in the team dressing room during an IPL 2026 match on Tuesday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has taken up the matter, and it has been indicated that Parag will be asked to provide his explanation before the league considers any further disciplinary steps.
The controversy surfaced as RR completed a chase of 223 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. During the game, Parag had already been dismissed for 29 off 16 balls, but the live visuals—distributed widely after the match—reportedly captured him using a vape-like device while the Royals were in their dressing room. The clip quickly went viral on social media, leading to renewed criticism about player conduct in a professional IPL setting.
While the attention now centres on the dressing-room footage, the match itself proved crucial for Rajasthan. Punjab Kings had set a formidable target, yet RR stayed composed and finished the chase with four balls remaining. Rajasthan ultimately won by six wickets, handing PBKS their first loss of the season. The chase was steered through a late surge, with Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey playing key roles as RR reached 228/4 in 19.2 overs.
Despite RR’s successful result, the spotlight has shifted toward the off-field incident. The BCCI has made its position clear that vaping is not permitted, and that the IPL will not rush to a conclusion until Parag’s response is received. A BCCI official stated that they will request an explanation from Parag because vaping is against the rules, and that the league will determine what comes next based on his account of events.
As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding any punishment or sanction. The board’s approach at this stage is to review the matter internally first after Parag responds, meaning the IPL has not closed the case with a decision already made. In other words, any further action will hinge on the explanation provided by the captain.
The timing is particularly challenging for Parag personally. At 24, he has struggled to build innings consistently this season, registering 117 runs across nine matches. His average has sat below 15, and his top score remains 29—the same knock that ended in dismissal against Punjab Kings. Rajasthan’s win and one of their better finishes of the campaign have therefore been overshadowed, at least in the public eye, by the viral clip.
For Rajasthan, the episode also adds to a growing list of scrutiny this season. Earlier in IPL 2026, RR had faced a separate incident involving team manager Ravinder “Romi” Bhinder, who was caught using a mobile phone during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. After the matter was reviewed by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, he was warned and fined ₹1 lakh. Now, Parag’s case is at a different stage—still under review rather than formal sanction—but with the BCCI confirming vaping is disallowed and an explanation being sought, the issue has moved from social media debate into the IPL’s disciplinary process.
