Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag has been fined 25% of his match earnings and received one demerit point after an incident inside the team dressing room during RR’s IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. The breach relates to conduct that violates the league’s code and, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India noted, brings the game into disrepute.
What happened to Parag
- Rajasthan were in the middle of their chase of Punjab Kings’ 222 when Parag was reported to have used a vape inside the dressing room.
- The IPL’s disciplinary process followed, with the BCCI stating that Parag breached Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct, which covers behaviour that harms the sport’s reputation.
- Parag admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Amit Sharma.
- With the chase in hand, RR ultimately finished the job with four balls remaining.
The BCCI also indicated that the matter may not be limited to Parag alone, saying it was “exploring other options” to start proceedings for stricter action against the team, its officials, and any involved player(s). The intent, the board said, is to protect the IPL’s reputation.
Earlier warning in the same season
The latest development involving Parag follows a separate incident involving Rajasthan’s team manager Romi Bhinder, who was fined INR 1 lakh after being caught using his mobile phone in the team dugout during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 in Guwahati.
- Bhinder informed the IPL’s anti-corruption unit that the breach—contrary to Article 4.1.1 of the IPL’s players’ and match officials’ area protocols—was accidental.
- He admitted to the offence and offered an unconditional apology.
- Subsequently, a media release stated Bhinder had been instructed to take greater care going forward and to follow the established guidelines strictly.
How both incidents came to public notice
In Bhinder’s case, the episode surfaced after images showing him with his phone and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi beside him were shared on social media following the RCB game. A similar pattern emerged after the PBKS match, when Parag-related pictures also circulated online shortly after Rajasthan’s contest concluded.
