Riyan Parag Fined for Vaping in Dressing Room: BCCI Considers Further Action

Riyan Parag Fined for Vaping in Dressing Room

Riyan Parag, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain, has been fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point after being caught using a vape inside the dressing room during RR’s IPL 2026 game against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in New Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Parag was found to have breached Article 2.21 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to conduct that brings the game into disrepute, according to a BCCI statement on Thursday. The incident took place during RR’s chase of PBKS’ 222, which they managed with four balls in hand.

Admission of Offence and Sanction

Parag admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the match referee, Amit Sharma. The BCCI said it was exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials, and player/s to ensure that the reputation of IPL remains intact.

This incident came less than two weeks after RR team manager Romi Bhinder had been fined INR 1 lakh after being caught using his mobile phone in the team dugout during the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 in Guwahati. Bhinder told the IPL’s anti-corruption unit that the breach was inadvertent and admitted to the offence, offering an unconditional apology.

Investigation and Precedent

The incident came to light when pictures of Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi next to him were put up on social media after the match. Similarly, pictures of Parag appeared on social media not long after the game against PBKS, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to the established guidelines and protocols.

The BCCI’s decision to fine Parag and consider further action against the team demonstrates its commitment to maintaining the integrity and reputation of the IPL. As the tournament continues, teams and players will be under scrutiny to ensure they adhere to the code of conduct and respect the game.