- Riyan Parag was fined for vaping during an IPL match.
- The incident happened inside the dressing room during live broadcast.
- Ravichandran Ashwin said the situation “could have been avoided.”
- Parag accepted the penalty without a formal hearing.
- The act was considered a breach of IPL Code of Conduct.
Riyan Parag, captain of Rajasthan Royals, has come under criticism after he was seen vaping inside the dressing room during an IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings. The incident quickly became a major talking point.
As a result of the incident, Parag was fined 25 per cent of his match fee. He was also given one demerit point for breaking the IPL Code of Conduct. The action was taken after video footage showed him vaping during the second innings of the match in Mullanpur. The moment was caught during a live broadcast.
The incident has led to criticism from many people. Several observers said that as a young player and a team captain, Parag should set a better example for others, especially younger fans and aspiring cricketers.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also spoke about the issue. He said that the situation could have been avoided.
"I think this is totally a situation that could have been avoided. I want players not to get trapped in such things. I don’t really want that for a young player, and this is a little sensitive, too. I think, on all quadrants, if we look at so many things, this could have been avoided," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin also talked about the importance of keeping personal choices private. He said that while individuals can make their own decisions, they should be careful about where they act on them.
"Sometimes what happens is it’s a personal choice, but your personal choice should be in your personal space. If you do all this in public space, that can very well be avoided. All I would say is this: it's my small advice as an elder brother. I want to tell Riyan Parag that, whatever happens in your personal life, nobody has any concern about it. Nobody can say anything about that. But whatever you do, do it in your personal space, because you are a captain, you are a franchise leader. You are probably an inspiration for many cricketers, many youth, many young Indians, and young people around the world. So there is some responsibility too," he added.
Ashwin also showed support for Parag, while still pointing out that such actions should not happen.
"I have my deepest empathy and sympathy for the young kid, but at the same time, I totally believe all these things should and can be avoided," he added.
He also said that learning from such incidents is important.
"It can’t be easy, man. In today’s world, I also sometimes read things and think, man, I mean, sometimes this happens. I’m not saying these things should be let go under the carpet, because if action isn’t taken, nobody will learn from it. But it is better to avoid these things," he concluded.
Parag admitted to the offense and accepted the punishment. According to IPL rules, this was a Level 1 offense. This means a fine of 25 per cent of the match fee and one demerit point. No formal hearing was required.
The matter was reported after video evidence surfaced. On-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon brought it to the attention of officials.
An IPL statement explained the violation.
“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,” the advisory said.
