BCCI Takes Strict Action Against Riyan Parag After 'Vaping' Row in IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals' skipper Riyan Parag has been fined 25 per cent of his match fees for being spotted vaping in the dressing room during the Indian Premier League 2026 fixture against Punjab Kings. The video was filmed during the contest held on April 28 at Mullanpur and shown during the live broadcast.

 

The BCCI handed Parag a Level 1 offence under Article 2.1 of the IPL Player Code of Conduct. His offense was termed as an act bringing the game into disrepute. Being a Level 1 offense, he was fined and received a demerit point with no formal hearing.

 

Riyan Parag contract is Rs 14 crore for this season and he receives about Rs 1 crore for each match. So with 25 per cent deducted from match fee he loses about Rs 25 lakh which is still a decent amount for his first offense.

 

BCCI Applies Code of Conduct After Video Evidence

 

The entire incident came to light due to the video footage, the on-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had apparently missed the incident. Match referee Amit Sharma noticed the same during video analysis of the match and gave the young captain a Code of Conduct offense.

 

No explicit rules are set for smoking or vaping within the dressing rooms, so for this incident BCCI used Article 2.21 of the Player Code of Conduct which deals with 'any action that brings the game into disrepute which is not specifically covered by any of the foregoing provisions of this clause'.

 

"The Article 2.21 is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically or adequately covered by the specific offences set out in the COC."

 

This clause is also related to Public acts of indiscipline and improper conduct which would include such acts which can be proved to have been deliberately careless or avoidable.

 

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Parag to Agree for Fine, No Hearing Necessary.

 

The incident falls under Level 1 and therefore the penalty has been imposed on him directly, as there was no need for a hearing. The player was issued with the notice on April 30 and the player can file an appeal against the punishment, but it might call for a further inquiry into the matter.

 

However, reliable reports confirm that the player will agree for the fine and end the issue then and there. Alongside the fine, the player will also be given one demerit point according to IPL norms.

 

The incident gained importance due to e-cigarettes ban in India since 2019, according to which production, sale and usage are forbidden, and can result in fines, and imprisonment in the case of violations. BCCI officials believe this to be an careless approach by a player in this age, where the entire match is being shot and filmed for the fans and it goes viral on social media within no time.

 

This is not the only problem for the team Rajasthan Royals this season. Previously their team manager Romi Bhinder was fined 1 lakh rupees for breaching bio bubble rules by being in the dugout with a phone. However, Rajasthan Royals had gone on to win the match against Punjab Kings, ending their losing streak of matches.