NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag found himself at the centre of a controversy after footage surfaced showing him vaping inside the dressing room during the live coverage of the team’s match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. The clip has been spreading quickly across social media. The incident is reported to have taken place in the 16th over of Rajasthan’s chase, with Parag seen casually using a vape/e-cigarette while his teammates Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal were nearby. Smoking is strictly barred in dressing rooms and across stadium grounds, except in designated areas, which has made the alleged use of an e-cigarette particularly startling.
Parag’s alleged vaping also raises questions because India’s law under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019 bans e-cigarettes and vapes. The legislation prohibits manufacturing, selling, buying, importing, exporting and advertising such products within India. Under the Act, offenders can face imprisonment and substantial penalties. In the aftermath of the development, a request for comment was reportedly made to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, and the matter is expected to be revisited as soon as a response comes in. The situation has further sparked concern because vaping is neither clearly permitted nor properly regulated in the country, suggesting that additional scrutiny may be needed.
One industry source monitoring the developments said the issue is more serious than ordinary smoking, noting that with vaping there is no clear certainty about what exactly is being inhaled. The source pointed out that the ban exists for a reason, highlighting that ingredients are not always transparent and that it remains unclear whether the product meets safety requirements—an especially sensitive factor for an elite athlete. The source also stressed that the franchise and captain will likely need to be prepared with their explanation, adding that the BCCI is not expected to treat the incident lightly.
This is not the first time Rajasthan have been caught in off-field controversy during the current season. Earlier, the team’s manager was reported to have breached PMOA protocol by using his phone casually from the dugout during live coverage. That matter was also captured on television, and after a detailed review, the BCCI issued a warning and imposed a fine on Romi Bhinder.
