Riyan Parag, captain of the Rajasthan Royals cricket team, has drawn attention after being seen vaping in the dressing room during the IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings. This incident occurred during the 16th over of Rajasthan's successful 223-run chase, where he was in the company of teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), smoking and vaping are strictly forbidden within stadium premises, except in designated areas. Furthermore, India's Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), enacted in 2019, prohibits the production, sale, and consumption of e-cigarettes nationwide, with violations potentially leading to imprisonment of up to six months or significant fines. Although there is no explicit public rule against vaping, the BCCI maintains strict guidelines regarding player conduct in stadiums, particularly concerning health and safety protocols. This controversy comes at a challenging time for the 24-year-old Parag, who has faced criticism for his inconsistent batting performance, having scored only 81 runs in seven innings prior to this match. Despite the off-field distraction, the Rajasthan Royals triumphed over Punjab Kings, marking Punjab's first defeat of the season. In a related incident, Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was fined ₹1 lakh for using a mobile phone in the dugout during a previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.