BCCI “might be forced to act” after Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was caught vaping in the dressing room and the footage of which went viral during their IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday.
The vaping clip of Parag triggered widespread reaction on the social media with users calling for disciplinary action. Parag, who has been struggling with the bat, had scored 29 off 16 balls.
Top IPL and BCCI officials responsible for the conduct of the tournament have called the act as careless from Parag with so many cameras around.
“A lot of players consume e-cigarettes but they don’t do it in the dressing room. It is too risky and careless to be doing that with so many cameras around. With Parag caught vaping so openly, the BCCI might be forced to act,” a well placed IPL source told PTI.
The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.
Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs 1 lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.
Another IPL source told PTI the issue of players’ privacy in the dressing room was raised at the Captains Meeting in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2026. Some of the captains had raised an objection to cameras panning to the dressing room during the live broadcast.
“It was not specifically related to the use of e-cigarettes in the dressing room. It was broadly around their 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 is up to the broadcaster and not the BCCI to decide over cameras showing the feed from the dressing room. After this incident, it perhaps may be reviewed.
“Having said that, it was careless from Parag and it is difficult to defend something like this. An elite athlete caught smoking like this is not setting a good example for the public,” said the source.
A report by Times Now, citing unnamed sources, says that Parag is unlikely to face any punishment because there is no rule in the IPL that specifically penalises vaping. However, BCCI may still give him a warning. The report also suggests that he is not expected to face any serious action.
At the same time, another report by The Indian Express, also quoting an unnamed BCCI official, says that the board will ask Parag to explain his actions.
The official said the BCCI will first hear what Parag has to say, and then decide what steps to take, since vaping is not allowed.
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.”
