Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined 25 percent of his match fee for violating the IPL Code of Conduct after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL clash against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. The incident, which occurred during the Royals’ chase on Tuesday night, sparked widespread criticism on social media.

According to PTI sources, on-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon did not immediately report the incident to match referee Amit Sharma. They flagged the breach only after reviewing video evidence. Sharma deemed Parag guilty under Level 1 offences, which carry a 25% match fee deduction and one demerit point.

“Riyan admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the Match Referee, Amit Sharma,” the IPL stated.

The BCCI is also considering additional measures against the Rajasthan Royals team, officials, and players to uphold the league’s reputation. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saika said: “As it is written clearly in the statement, we are exploring what action to take on the team. It is not decided yet.”

E-cigarettes were banned in India in 2019, making production, sale, and distribution illegal. Violators can face up to one year in prison and/or a fine of Rs. 1 lakh for a first offence.

The IPL Code of Conduct, Article 2.21, covers any behavior that brings the game into disrepute and is not explicitly covered by other specific offences, including Article 2.20.