Riyan Parag was meant to be celebrating a rare high in what has so far been a tough season of IPL 2026 but ended up in the limelight after the victory of the Rajasthan Royals over Punjab Kings. The 24 year old was instrumental with a calm 29 run knock which helped his team beat Punjab by 6 wickets in New Chandigarh thus breaking the unbeaten streak of Punjab. The outcome improved the ranking of Rajasthan in the points table and rejuvenated their chances of making it to the playoffs.
But attention soon turned off the on field performance when television cameras filmed Parag allegedly vaping in the dressing room soon after his firing. Although the footage clearly indicated the exhaled vapour, after a short period of trying to block the view with his teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal, the incident attracted a lot of criticism.
The accident has brought forth some grave issues, not just in the moral sphere but also in the legal and regulatory arena. In the Indian state of Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, the use of e-cigarettes, their sale and possession are prohibited, and the breach of the law may result in fines and penalties. Moreover, in professional cricket, there are stringent measures that do not allow the use of electronic devices in dressing rooms to ensure their security and integrity.
The scandal has prompted the question of Parag as a leader and whether the team was following the laid down norms. As the Board of Control in Cricket in India might take notice of this, this could lead to disciplinary action and so, this incident is a big issue outside the actual match.