JAIPUR: Rajasthan Royals are once again under the scanner for a disciplinary lapse, just days after their team manager was pulled up for using a mobile phone in the dugout. This time, captain Riyan Parag has found himself in the middle of a fresh controversy after television cameras caught him apparently vaping inside the team dressing roomduring Tuesday night’s clash against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh.The moment came in the 16th over of the second innings while Rajasthan were chasing a target of 223. As the broadcast focused on the dressing room for reaction shots, Riyan was seen taking a puff from what looked like an e-cigarette. Teammates Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel were visible in the vicinity.
Though Royals went on to secure a six-wicket victory, the result was quickly overshadowed by intense chatter surrounding their captain’s offfield conduct.India’s Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 bans the production, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of vapes, with violations carrying penalties that can include fines and, in some cases, imprisonment of up to six months for storage-related offences. While personal use in private spaces rarely leads to prosecution, the highly public setting of a live IPL broadcast has amplified the issue.BCCI officials are understood to be examining the footage. Insiders say the matter is likely to be dealt with under the IPL code of conduct. “There is no defined punishment in the IPL code of conduct. The BCCI will be seeking legal opinion,” a source said.Royals sources said, “Until now there is no communication from the BCCI. Coach Kumar Sangakkara spoke with Riyan on the matter after the match.”
