BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia With Yuzvendra Chahal. Image Credits: AFP/AP
Punjab Kings’ star leg spinner, also the leading wicket-taker of the IPL, Yuzvendra Chahal, has come under heavy criticism following recent controversies around his personal life amid the IPL 2026 season.
For context, Chahal allegedly consumed an e-cigarette (a banned illegal substance as per Indian law) on a flight with PBKS, which triggered a serious social media backlash.
While the authenticity of the video has not been officially verified, Chahal received criticism from a former cricketer.
Former cricketer wants Yuzvendra Chahal to be jailed
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan posted an explosive message on X where he said Yuzvendra Chahal should be put behind bars if found guilty of vaping.
He added that if ordinary citizens face consequences, celebrities and cricketers should not receive softer treatment.
"Vape is banned in India. Should be behind bars. What is the point in having Laws and not implementing them. 25% of match fees is peanuts. What if a regular person had done this, What would the action be?" Sivaramakrishnan said on X.
That being said, according to rumours, the video of Yuzvendra Chahal consuming a vape is AI-generated, as they are not allowed to be carried on a flight.
However, neither PBKS, Chahal, nor the BCCI have come forward to clear the matter, and it's still up for speculation.
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Vaping normalised in IPL? BCCI spring into action
That being said, Yuzvendra Chahal is not the only one caught in the controversy. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was caught consuming a vape inside the dressing room.
He was later fined and given a demerit point for unprofessional conduct during a live IPL match.
Following that incident, the BCCI issued stricter directives. They banned vaping in dressing rooms, dugouts, hotels, practice venues, and tournament premises.
The board reportedly warned that vaping may not only violate IPL rules but could also involve “cognisable offences” under Indian law. Hence, precautions have to be in place.
Chahal’s off-field life becomes a talking point
Apart from vaping, PBKS leg-spinner Chahal was also caught smoking while driving in a clip that again went viral on social media. He allegedly threw the cigarette on the road, which triggered a backlash as fans slammed him for being a bad role model.
Not only that, an actress named Taniya Chatterjee recently claimed that Chahal slid into her DMs and sent her compliments via texts. However, the revelation triggered yet another storm, forcing the PBKS spinner to take legal action as he sent out a defamation suit.
Needless to say, Yuzvendra Chahal is having a tough time getting his personal life in order amid ongoing IPL 2026 season. With everything now exposed and accessible on people’s mobile screens, it’s extremely difficult for Chahal to lay low and focus on cricket.
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