Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag faces mounting scrutiny after footage emerged of him using a vape device in the team dressing room during IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred while RR were chasing 223, went viral on social media and has triggered fresh concerns about player conduct and workplace discipline within the ten-team competition.

The incident and immediate fallout

Parag, who scored 29 in the match, was filmed using the vape device while in proximity to teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen. The visual breach of dressing-room protocol has drawn criticism from IPL officials and commentators, who argue that a franchise captain should exercise heightened awareness given the presence of multiple broadcast cameras during matches. An IPL source told IANS on Wednesday that the incident sets a concerning precedent for player conduct standards.

Legal and regulatory backdrop

Under The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, vaping and e-cigarette use are illegal in India. The Act prohibits production, sale, purchase, import, export, and advertisement of such devices, with violations attracting imprisonment and substantial fines. While nicotine itself is not explicitly banned by the BCCI, officials have flagged uncertainty around vape ingredient composition and how the device entered the secured dressing room in the first place.

Mounting disciplinary pressure on Rajasthan Royals

This marks the second conduct-related incident involving the franchise in recent weeks. Earlier, RR player Bhinder was fined ₹1 lakh and issued a stern warning for using a mobile phone in the dugout during a clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. The back-to-back breaches have placed the franchise under heightened scrutiny from the tournament administration.

What IPL officials are saying

Tournament insiders emphasise that player awareness of broadcast coverage is non-negotiable. An IPL official noted that with multiple cameras capturing minute details during matches, athletes must maintain discipline both on and off the field. The official added that Parag's position as team captain and his status as an elite international cricketer amplify the seriousness of the incident. Pre-season captains' meetings had apparently discussed designating dressing rooms as no-shoot zones to protect player privacy, though the status of those discussions remains unclear.

Next steps and unanswered questions

The BCCI is expected to review the incident and determine appropriate disciplinary action. Officials have raised questions about security protocols that allowed a vape device into a restricted area, and whether the IPL's playing regulations — which emphasise dressing-room decorum but do not explicitly prohibit vaping — require amendment. Industry sources suggest the board must act decisively to prevent normalisation of such behaviour at the elite level.