Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag has been sanctioned by the BCCI after footage of him vaping during the IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur surfaced earlier this week. The incident, captured by a broadcast camera, drew rapid attention online and triggered widespread criticism. On Thursday, the cricket board imposed a fine equal to 25% of Parag’s match fee for bringing the game into disrepute, along with a single demerit point for violating Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for players and team staff.
While the punishment was initially announced for Parag, the BCCI’s statement also hinted that the matter may not end with the individual sanction. It indicated that the board is “exploring options” regarding further steps aimed at the Rajasthan Royals franchise, including its officials and players, in order to protect the IPL’s reputation. The language in the release made clear that the board was not satisfied with how the Royals’ internal conduct reflected on the league, and that additional proceedings may be considered.
The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, later reinforced that the governing body is still working through possible next steps. He said the options being considered are aligned with what was already set out in the board’s statement, and stressed that no final decision has been reached on whether the franchise will face further action.
Parag’s violation was flagged after the clip went viral, and the response was formalised following an assessment of the available evidence. A report also noted that the on-field umpires, Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon, did not immediately report the matter to the match referee after the game; instead, they informed the match officials only once they became aware of the video. After reviewing the visuals, Parag was found guilty of a Code of Conduct breach under the IPL’s framework. Since the offence fell under Level 1, the process did not require a hearing.
The sanction comes only days after another episode involving Rajasthan personnel during IPL 2026. On April 10, in Guwahati, team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using his mobile phone from the dugout during the Royals’ match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was fined INR 1 lakh for that breach. Bhinder informed the IPL’s Anti-Corruption Unit that the incident was inadvertent and also issued an unconditional apology.
