IPL 2026: [WATCH] Kagiso Rabada spotted smoking at team hotel, video sparks row
Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada has once again grabbed headlines, this time for an off-field moment that has gone viral on social media. The South African bowler was recently spotted smoking within the premises of the team hotel, with a video of the incident circulating widely online.
The footage, seemingly recorded from a nearby balcony, shows Rabada in an open area alongside members of the team staff. While there is no rule in professional cricket that explicitly prohibits smoking, the visuals have triggered conversations around his professional behaviour during a competition like IPL.
Watch the clip here -
Notably, this is not the first time Rabada has found himself in controversy. The 30-year-old had earlier admitted to testing positive for the use of a recreational drug, which resulted in a provisional suspension and an abrupt exit from the IPL 2025 season on April 3. At the time, theGujarat Titans management had cited a significant personal matter as the reason behind his departure, without disclosing further details.
It was later understood that the incident occurred during the SA20 earlier in the year, where Rabada represented MI Cape Town. The exact duration of the sanction was not made public at that time, and the pacer had returned to India to resume playing duties soon. Later, it was revealed that he was banned for a month between April 1 to May 1.
In an official statement released through the South African Cricketers' Association, Rabada also had issued a heartfelt apology and had taken full responsibility for his actions.
“As has been reported, I recently returned to South Africa from participating in the IPL for personal reasons. This was due to my returning an adverse analytical finding for the use of a recreational drug,” Rabada had said.
“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down. I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations. I am serving a provisional suspension and I am looking forward to returning to the game I love playing,” he concluded.
Rabada is representing the IPL 2022 champions in IPL 2026, and has taken 10 wickets for them so far. He remains an integral part of the Shubman Gill-led side.