BCCI Not To Let Riyan Parag Escape Easily After Vaping Video; Strict Action Loading

BCCI set to punish Riyan Parag [AFP]

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag escaped with just a 25 percent match fee cut for his admission of using a vape in the dressing room during an IPL match recently. The punishment could have been stricter, but the Assam cricketer got leverage as no ban was imposed on him.

However, if Parag thought his troubles were over, he needs to rethink as the BCCI has jumped into action mode, and both the player (Parag), and his IPL franchise (Rajasthan Royals) could face severe consequences in the upcoming days.

The IPL incident that hampered Riyan Parag's reputation

The Rajasthan Royals skipper’s reputation was hampered during the RR Vs PBKS IPL match, a couple of days ago. In footage that went viral and was spread like wildfire, Parag could be seen vaping in the dressing room, and the incident was reported to the match referee.

Subsequently, Parag was fined 25 percent of his match fee, and he escaped an IPL ban. However, after the incident, the BCCI had warned him and the franchise that serious action was under consideration.

The vaping incident inside the dressing room tarnished Parag’s image as IPL fans criticised him for breaking the Code of Conduct, and many felt that BCCI wasn’t strict when announcing the punishment.

BCCI Secretary goes into action mode, set to punish Riyan Parag

Speaking to the journalists at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai on Saturday, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, was furious with Parag’s actions, and he warned him and the Royals that the BCCI would take necessary steps to punish those who had violated the laws.

“We are exploring [options] because in our press release, we had very clearly mentioned we were exploring some other options — how to act against the teams which are violating the norms,” Saikia said on Saturday, as quoted by The Hindu.

“We will be taking some action. And we are looking at the various terms and conditions and protocols of the IPL — how the teams should behave. It is not only about the players or officials,” he added.

Parag responds to criticism with the bat

Parag accepted the 25 percent match fee deduction, and he didn’t release any official statement. However, he responded in style with the bat as the RR captain punished the Delhi Capitals bowlers.

In the RR Vs DC IPL 2026 match, the Royals lost both Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, cheaply. The side needed someone to resurrect the innings, and Parag became the saviour as he took apart the Capitals attack with ease.

He scored 90 off 50 deliveries with a strike rate of 180, and narrowly missed out on a historic century. Courtesy of his stellar knock, the Rajasthan Royals managed to post 225/6.

Also Read: Rajasthan Royals Issue Official Statement On BCCI Punishing Riyan Parag For Vaping

Not the first controversy for RR in IPL 2026

Interestingly, the Riyan Parag vaping incident is not the first controversy RR has landed in the ongoing IPL 2026. Before the Parag event, the Rajasthan Royals manager, Romi Bhinder, faced BCCI’s wrath after he was caught using a mobile phone in the team dugout, which is a violation of the Code of Conduct.

The IPL’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit got involved in the matter, and after the explanation offered by the manager, the BCCI imposed just a 1 lakh fine, rather than a suspension or a ban.

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