Riyan Parag faces controversy after alleged vaping during IPL match

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has come under controversy after visuals allegedly showed him vaping during an IPL match against Punjab Kings. The incident sparked social media debate, while IPL sources described the act as careless amid concerns over dressing room privacy

New Delhi:: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has courted controversy after TV cameras allegedly caught him vaping in the dressing room during his team’s Indian Premier League game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.

The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, an offender faces imprisonment of up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first-time offence.

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Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL season, was allegedly seen inhaling from an e-cigarette in the dressing room during the live broadcast of Rajasthan Royals’ game against Punjab Kings on Tuesday night.

The visuals triggered immediate reactions on social media. Parag made a 16-ball 29 in his team’s successful chase of 223.

IPL and BCCI officials associated with the conduct of the tournament termed it a careless act in the age of social media and constant TV coverage.

“A lot of players consume e-cigarettes, but they do not do it in the dressing room. It is too risky and careless to do that with so many cameras around. With Parag allegedly caught vaping so openly, the BCCI might be forced to act,” said a well-placed IPL source.

No Rajasthan Royals team official was available for comment.

This is not the first controversy involving the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after he was found using his phone in the dugout.

Dressing room privacy raised at IPL Captains Meeting

Another IPL source told PTI that the issue of players’ privacy in the dressing room was raised at the Captains Meeting in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2026. Some captains had objected to cameras panning towards the dressing room during live broadcasts.

“It was not specifically related to the use of e-cigarettes in the dressing room. It was broadly about players’ privacy. There are times when players are not fully dressed in the dressing room or may want to avoid cameras.

“They were told that it is up to the broadcaster, and not the BCCI, to decide on cameras showing footage from the dressing room. After this incident, it may perhaps be reviewed.

“Having said that, it was careless from Parag and it is difficult to defend something like this. An elite athlete allegedly caught smoking like this is not setting a good example for the public,” the source said.

As per the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, “no person shall, directly or indirectly, (i) produce or manufacture or import or export or transport or sell or distribute electronic cigarettes, whether as a complete product or any part thereof; and (ii) advertise electronic cigarettes or take part in any advertisement that directly or indirectly promotes the use of electronic cigarettes.

“…no person, being the owner or occupier or having the control or use of any place shall knowingly permit it to be used for storage of any stock of electronic cigarettes.”

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vaping is injurious to health, though it may not be as harmful as smoking a cigarette.

“Nicotine is the primary agent in regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving.

“Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack,” states an expert column on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.