Riyan Parag Fined 25% of Match Fee for Vaping During IPL Game
Riyan Parag Fined 25% of Match Fee for Vaping During IPL Game
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag fined 25% of match fee and awarded a demerit point after vaping in the dressing room during an IPL 2026 clash.
Riyan Parag, captain of Rajasthan Royals, was fined 25 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during an IPL 2026 fixture against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. The sanction comes under a Level 1 offence of Article 2.21, which covers conduct that brings the game into disrepute. The incident occurred during the second innings when Parag was seen vaping inside the dressing room on live broadcast. Parag admitted to the offence and accepted the punishment imposed by match referee Amit Sharma.
An IPL media advisory stated that the violation was determined under IPL regulations, with Level 1 offences carrying a 25 percent fine of the match fee along with one demerit point and no formal hearing required. The case came to light after video evidence surfaced, with on-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon reporting the matter.
The incident sparked criticism on social media, particularly since e-cigarettes are banned in India under a 2019 law prohibiting their production, sale and use. The BCCI said it is exploring other options to initiate stringent action against the erring team, its officials and players to safeguard the league’s reputation.
Parag’s team, RR, confirmed the sanction but did not offer additional comment immediately. A poll accompanying IPL communications asked fans whether Parag should face a harsher penalty, reflecting wider debate about off-field conduct. While vaping in dressing rooms is off-field behavior, the episode highlights ongoing concerns about enforcing league rules consistently across franchises.
