From Parag to De Villiers- Cricketers caught smoking and vaping on camera (X)
Rajasthan Royals captain Rayan Parag found himself at the center of a huge controversy after pictures of him smoking e-cigarettes inside the dressing room during the IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings went viral on social media.
The incident took place during the 16th day of Rajasthan’s chase, when Parag was seen smoking e-cigarettes while sitting next to his teammates Dhruv Gurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The footage captured during the live broadcast quickly spread across the Internet and sparked widespread controversy.This law has raised serious concerns, especially since smoking is strictly prohibited inside the locker rooms and stadium buildings, except in areas designated for that.
Most importantly, e-cigarettes and their products are banned in India under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, which prohibits their production, sale, purchase and use. Violations can 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 Romy Bhinder was warned and fined after he was caught using a phone in the dugout, in violation of PMOA protocol.
Parag’s case also adds to a growing list of cricketers who have been caught up in similar situations over the years.Back in 2020, a short clip of
Aaron Finch
Vaping during the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru has gone viral. The former Australian captain was seen exhaling smoke and taking another breath before the feed cut to live, but the moment was enough to spread quickly across social media.
Most recently, during an SA20 match earlier this year, cameras caught it
AB de Villiers
Vaping in VIP pads. The footage caused a stir, as the former South African star appeared visibly stunned after realizing he was on the big screen.
While those incidents involved vaping, there have also been instances where players admitted to smoking. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has revealed he smoked in the toilet during the 2015 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, while England international Ben Stokes said he smoked in the toilet during the 2019 World Cup final.In another instance during this IPL season, Gujarat Titans player Kagiso Rabada courted controversy after he was seen in a video smoking a cigarette from a hotel balcony, though the incident did not happen inside the stadium premises. With several such incidents involving high-profile players, Parag’s latest controversy is likely to intensify discussions on player behaviour, regulations and enforcement, especially in a high-profile league like the Indian Premier League.