Riyan Parag’s night, which must have been a moment of celebration, as a substitute become controversy. The 24-year-old not only recorded his highest rating in an otherwise disappointing season but in addition became the primary captain to stop Punjab Kings’ winning run. Nevertheless, the incident that followed raised questions on his decision-making and in addition put Rajasthan Royals’ commitment to rules under scrutiny.
Parag showed some good form with a fast and necessary 29 in Latest Chandigarh on Tuesday. His contribution, together with other key performances, helped Rajasthan end Punjab’s unbeaten streak and move to 3rd place after a six-wicket win. The victory boosted the 2008 champions’ campaign and kept their playoff hopes alive.
Nevertheless, attention later shifted to visuals of Parag allegedly vaping within the dressing room soon after his dismissal by Yuzvendra Chahal. As Donovan Ferreira and impact substitute Shubham Dubey continued the chase aggressively, Parag was seen taking a puff from the device, which was captured by the tv cameras.
Although Yashasvi Jaiswal briefly blocked the view, the vapour was clearly visible, making the incident hard to disregard.
How Did a Vape Enter the RR Dressing Room?
The strong response from many quarters has largely been driven by moral concerns, however the matter goes beyond ethics. There are necessary legal features that can not be neglected. For example, vaping or using e-cigarettes is unlawful in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019.
This law bans the production, sale, purchase, import, export, and commercial of e-cigarettes and vapes, with violations attracting imprisonment and heavy fines. Moreover, electronic devices, akin to vapes, are generally not allowed in dressing rooms, especially those with recording or communication features.
That’s the reason players and support staff often hand over their mobile phones to team managers soon after arriving on the venue. This raises a key query: how did Parag, or anyone else, manage to bring a vape into the dressing room?
What’s happening within the ipl ?#PBKS#RR@IPL @BCCI
Riyan parag is using vape 😱😱😱😓 pic.twitter.com/xVXhb0LKZW— Vansh Goyal (@vanshgoyal0674) April 28, 2026
Just weeks ago, Rajasthan team manager Romi Bhinder was fined ₹1 lakh and warned for using a phone within the dugout, violating IPL rules. Despite that, the team appears to have repeated the same lapse. Riyan Parag is now more likely to face criticism for setting a poor example, together with possible strict motion from authorities, who may not take the matter calmly given its public nature and legal implications.
Get the newest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.