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RR vs PBKS IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday ended the unbeaten run of Punjab Kings, defeating the table toppers by six wickets in a high run chase at the PCA Stadium in Mullanpur. However, a controversy erupted soon in the Rajasthan camp after skipper Riyan Parag was seen vaping in the dressing room during the match.

Parag, caught by the TV cameras, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room, triggering a massive debate on social media regarding the protocols in the IPL. Using, producing or selling e-cigarettes/vapes has been banned in India since 2019, with the offender facing imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs 1 lakh fine for a first-time offence.

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While the Rajasthan team management has not responded to the controversy, IPL and BCCI officials have termed Parag's act as "careless" and said that BCCI might take strict action against him. "A lot of players consume e-cigarettes but they don't do it in the dressing room. It is too risky and careless to be doing that with so many cameras around. With Parag caught vaping so openly, the BCCI might be forced to act," PTI quoted an IPL official as saying.

This is the second controversy to hit the Rajasthan Royals this season. Earlier this month, RR manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout. Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada also courted a similar controversy earlier last week, after a video of him smoking a cigarette in the team hotel balcony went viral on social media.

ALSO READ: IPL 2026: BCCI Punishes RR Team Manager Who Was Caught Using Phone In Dugout During Rajasthan vs Bengaluru

How Social Media Is Reacting To Parag's Vaping Video:

Privacy Concerns Raised:

A report by PTI, citing IPL insiders, has stated that the captains of franchises have raised the issue of players' privacy in the dressing room during the Captains Meeting in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2026. Some of the skippers flagged cameras panning to the dressing room during the live broadcast.

"It was not specifically related to the use of e-cigarettes in the dressing room. It was broadly around their players' privacy. There are times when players are not fully dressed in the dressing room or may want to avoid cameras," the IPL source said, as quoted by PTI.

ALSO READ: IPL 2026 Points Table: PBKS Stay On Top Despite First Defeat, RR Rises To Third

They were told that it is up to the broadcaster and not the BCCI to decide on cameras showing the feed from the dressing room. After this incident, it may be reviewed. Having said that, it was careless from Parag, and it is difficult to defend something like this. An elite athlete caught smoking like this is not setting a good example for the public," added the source.

Health Risks Related To Vaping

As per John Hopkins Medicine, vaping is injurious to health, though it may not be as harmful as smoking a cigarette. "Nicotine is the primary agent in regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is highly addictive. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving," states an expert column on the John Hopkins Medicine website.

"Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack," it added.


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