rajasthan royals team leader Ryanparag He found himself at the center of a major controversy after he was allegedly caught vaping in the locker room during a game intense pulsed light The 2026 match against Kings XI Punjab went viral on social media.The incident took place in the 16th over of the Rajasthan Run Chase when Parag was seen casually smoking an e-cigarette while sitting next to teammates Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The video, taken during the live broadcast, quickly spread online and sparked widespread discussion.The bill raises serious concerns, especially since smoking is strictly prohibited in locker rooms and stadiums except in designated areas. What’s more, e-cigarettes and e-cigarettes are banned in India under the E-Cigarette Prohibition Act (PECA) 2019, which bans their production, sale, purchase and use. Violations may result in penalties, including fines and imprisonment.This is not the first time that Rajasthan Royals has been embroiled in controversy this season. Earlier, team manager Romi Bhinder was warned and fined after he was found to have breached the PMOA protocol by using his mobile phone in the dugout.Parag’s case also adds to the list of cricketers who have found themselves in similar situations over the years.Back in 2020, a short film Aaron Finch Smoking of e-cigarettes during an IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore has gone viral. The former Australia captain was seen exhaling a puff of smoke and taking another puff before the broadcast switched to live, but the moment was enough to go viral on social media.Most recently, at the SA20 competition earlier this year, cameras captured AB de Villiers Smoking in the VIP seats. The video caused a stir, with the former South African star visibly shocked after realizing he was on the big screen. While these incidents involved e-cigarettes, there were also cases of players admitting to smoking. Former New Zealand captain Brendan McCullum revealed he smoked in the toilet during the 2015 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, while England all-rounder Ben Stokes said he smoked in the main toilet during the 2019 World Cup final.In another incident this IPL season, Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada has been embroiled in controversy after a video allegedly showed him smoking on a hotel balcony, though the incident did not take place inside the stadium. With several such incidents involving high-profile players, Parag’s latest controversy is likely to intensify discussions around player conduct, policing and enforcement, especially in a high-profile league like the IPL.
