Riyan Parag fined 25% of match fee for vaping during IPL, faces possible stricter sanctions

Key facts

• Riyan Parag fined 25% of his match fee and given one demerit point for vaping during an IPL match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday.
• The incident was captured by live cameras in the 16th over of RR's chase and went viral on social media.
• Parag admitted the offence; BCCI is exploring other options for stringent action against the team, officials and player.
• E-cigarettes are banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, with penalties including imprisonment.
• This is not the first RR controversy this season; manager Romi Bhinder was fined INR 1 lakh for using a mobile phone in the dugout.
• Parag scored 90 off 50 balls in a losing cause against DC on May 1, his first 50+ score of the season.
• He is only the second player in IPL history to score 90+ twice after batting at number four or lower, after David Miller.
• Parag is the only captain to achieve that feat and the third player dismissed twice in the 90s without an IPL century.

Vaping incident overshadows victory

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point after being caught vaping in the dressing room during an Indian Premier League match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. The footage, broadcast live during the 16th over of Rajasthan's chase, showed the 24-year-old inhaling from an e-cigarette, sparking a social media firestorm that eclipsed the team's hard-fought win. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said Parag breached the tournament's code of conduct relating to "conduct that brings the game into disrepute." The player admitted the offence, but the board is "exploring other options" for "stringent action" against the team, officials and player to "ensure the reputation of IPL remains intact."

Legal and regulatory implications

The use of e-cigarettes is illegal in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, which bans the production, sale, purchase, import, export and advertisement of e-cigarettes and vapes. Violations can attract strict penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines. The Act, which came into force on September 18, 2019, does not cover products licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Smoking is strictly prohibited inside dressing rooms and across stadium premises except in designated zones, making Parag's actions a breach of basic stadium regulations as well. The BCCI's anti-corruption unit, led by Sharad Kumar, has been involved in enforcing protocols this season.

Previous team controversy

This is not the first time Rajasthan Royals have found themselves in controversy this season. Earlier, team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder was caught using a mobile phone in the team dugout during an IPL match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The BCCI anti-corruption unit issued a show-cause notice, and after finding his explanation unsatisfactory, fined him INR 1 lakh and gave him an official warning. "Romi Bhinder was involved in a protocol violation in the Guwahati match. He was issued a notice under the IPL protocols. He was given 48 hours to explain his position. His explanation came, and we are not very satisfied with it. The Anti-Corruption Unit is not very satisfied with his reply. As it is his first breach, so under the protocols, he was fined an amount of INR 1 lakh and also handed a warning that he needs to be more careful in the future," a source said.

Parag's on-field performance and rare feat

Despite the off-field controversy, Parag has made headlines for his batting this season. On May 1, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, he scored 90 runs off 50 balls against Delhi Capitals, including eight boundaries and five sixes, with a strike rate of 180. It was his first 50+ score of the season after a poor start to his first campaign as full-time captain, having managed just 117 runs in eight games. Parag walked out to bat in the second over after openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (6 off 2) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (4 off 2) fell cheaply. He put on a 102-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel (42 off 30) as RR posted 225. However, he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc in the 17th over, missing his maiden IPL century.

Historical context of Parag's achievement

This was the second time Parag has been dismissed in the 90s in his IPL career. Earlier in the 2025 season, he scored 95 off 45 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, becoming the first batter in IPL history to hit six consecutive sixes (in separate overs). That innings also ended in a losing cause, with RR losing by one run. Parag is only the second player in IPL history, and the first Indian, to score 90 or more twice after batting at number four or lower. The only other player to achieve the feat is David Miller. Among captains, Parag is the only one to do so. Overall, there have been 22 instances of players scoring at least 90 after walking out after the loss of the second wicket; among captains, four such instances by three players. Parag is also only the second captain to be dismissed twice in the 90s after David Warner, and the third player overall to be dismissed twice or more in the 90s without scoring a century, after Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis.

What comes next

The BCCI is yet to announce the specific additional actions it is considering against Parag and the Rajasthan Royals franchise. The board's statement that it is exploring "stringent action" suggests that the fine and demerit point may not be the end of the matter. The legal status of e-cigarettes in India adds a layer of complexity, potentially involving civil or criminal penalties beyond the IPL's internal disciplinary process. Parag, meanwhile, will have to balance the scrutiny of his off-field conduct with his responsibilities as captain and batsman. His team's season continues, and his performance will be closely watched.

Broader implications for the IPL

The incident underscores the challenges the IPL faces in maintaining discipline and upholding its reputation. The league's code of conduct is designed to protect the game's integrity, and the BCCI's swift action signals a zero-tolerance approach. However, the recurrence of protocol violations within the same franchise raises questions about the team's internal oversight. As the IPL evolves into a global spectacle, off-field behaviour of players and officials is under increasing scrutiny. The Parag case may prompt the BCCI to revisit its regulations and enforcement mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The bottom line

• Riyan Parag was fined 25% of his match fee and given one demerit point for vaping in the dressing room during an IPL match.
• The BCCI is considering further stringent action against Parag, team officials, and the franchise.
• E-cigarettes are illegal in India under PECA 2019, adding legal risk beyond IPL sanctions.
• This is the second protocol violation by Rajasthan Royals this season; manager Romi Bhinder was fined INR 1 lakh earlier.
• Despite the controversy, Parag achieved a rare batting feat: only the second player to score 90+ twice after batting at number four or lower.
• Parag is the only captain to achieve that feat and the third player dismissed twice in the 90s without an IPL century.