Vaping in dressing room puts Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag under disciplinary spotlight

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has found himself at the center of controversy despite his team’s victory over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was seen using an e-cigarette (vape) in the dressing room during the match, with the footage captured on live broadcast and quickly going viral on social media.

Under a 2019 law in India, the manufacture, import, sale, and storage of e-cigarettes are completely banned. Even personal possession and use in public places are considered punishable offenses. Violations can lead to fines of up to 500,000 rupees and possible imprisonment.

Following the incident, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to take disciplinary action against Parag. He may be penalized for breaching the IPL code of conduct and for setting a poor example as a professional cricketer.

The 24-year-old scored 29 runs in the match, helping Rajasthan Royals successfully chase down a target of 222 against Punjab Kings, handing them their first defeat of the season.

However, Parag has struggled with form this season. In nine matches, he has scored just 117 runs at an average of 14.62.

Notably, this is not the first disciplinary issue involving Rajasthan Royals this season. Earlier, team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder was fined 100,000 rupees for using a mobile phone in the dugout during a match.