Rajasthan Royals The captain Ryan Prague found themselves at the center of a major controversy after their visual scenes while allegedly steaming inside the dressing room. IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings went viral on social media.The incident took place during the 16th over of Rajasthan’s run chase, when Parag was seen casually steaming while sitting alongside his teammates Dhruv Jural and Yashaswi Jaiswal. Footage captured during the live broadcast quickly spread online and sparked widespread debate.The act has raised serious concerns, especially since smoking is strictly prohibited inside dressing rooms and stadium premises, except in designated areas. More importantly, electronic cigarettes and vapes are banned in India under the Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, which prohibits their manufacture, sale, purchase and use. Violations may result in penalties including fines and imprisonment.This is not the first time Rajasthan Royals have been mired in controversy this season. Earlier, team manager Romi Bhandar was cautioned and fined after being caught using a phone in the dugout in breach of PMOA protocol.Parag’s case also adds to the growing list of cricketers who have been caught in similar situations over the years.Back in 2020, a short clip of Aaron Finch Vaping went viral during the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The former Australian captain was seen puffing away and taking another puff before going live in action, but the moment was enough to go viral on social media.Most recently, during an SA20 match earlier this year, the cameras caught on. AB de Villiers The steamy footage caused a stir in the VIP stands, with the former South African star visibly shocked after realizing he was on the big screen. While these incidents involve vaping, there have also been cases of players admitting to smoking. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum revealed that he smoked in the toilet during the 2015 World Cup semi-final against South Africa, while England all-rounder Ben Stokes said he smoked in the washroom at Lord’s during the 2019 World Cup final.In another instance this IPL season, Gujarat Titans fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was shown in a video allegedly smoking a cigarette from a hotel balcony, although the incident did not take place inside the stadium premises. With a number of incidents involving high-profile players, the latest Parag controversy is likely to intensify the debate about player conduct, regulations and enforcement, especially in a high-profile league like the IPL.
