BCCI took action on Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag, who was spotted on camera vaping inside the team dressing room during an IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.. He was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for this behaviour on Thursday.
“Riyan Parag, captain of Rajasthan Royals, has been fined 25% of his match fee and has also accumulated one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during Match No. 40 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Punjab Kings,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“Riyan 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. The incident occurred during the second innings when Riyan was seen using a vape inside the dressing room. Riyan admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the match referee, Amit Sharma.”
🚨 News 🚨@rajasthanroyals Captain Riyan Parag has been fined 25% of his match fee and has also accumulated one Demerit Point (Level 1) for breaching Article 2.21 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials.
More Details 🔽 | #TATAIPL https://t.co/zftWRg2QWH
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 30, 2026
However, the statement also added that action may also be taken against the Rajasthan Royals, its officials, and players as well.
“The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials, and player(s) to ensure that the reputation of the IPL remains intact,” the BCCI again said.
It is noteworthy that the Indian government had banned e-cigarettes in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale, and distribution as well. As per the law, an offender can face imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine of Rs 1 lakh for a first-time offence as well.
“Article 2.21 of the IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which are not specifically and adequately covered by the offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20,” the IPL Code of Conduct states.
“By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game. When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable, and/or accidental shall be considered.”
“Further, the person lodging the report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lies (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature-hence a Level 1 offence-up to conduct of an extremely serious nature-hence a Level 4 offence).”
However, it is a Level 1 offence, there was no need for a hearing as well.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.