IPL 2026: Riyan Parag fined
Rajasthan Royals captain Ryan Parag has been fined 25% of his match fee after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute during the IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
The incident, which occurred during Rajasthan’s pursuit, was captured on live broadcast and quickly circulated on social media, sparking widespread criticism.
Code of conduct violation confirmed
According to officials, initially the on-field umpires did not report the matter. However, after reviewing the visual evidence, they referred it to match referee Amit Sharma, who found Parag guilty of a Level 1 offense under the IPL Code of Conduct.
The IPL confirmed the sanction in an official statement: “Ryan Parag admitted the offense and accepts the punishment imposed by the match referee.”
As per the decision, Parag has been deducted 25% of his match fee and one demerit point. Since this is a Level 1 violation, no formal hearing was required.
IPL’s stance on disciplinary standards
The league reiterated its tough stance on conduct issues. Citing its disciplinary framework, the IPL said Article 2.21 covers behavior that harms the image of the competition.
It states that punitive actions may include: “public misconduct, unruly behaviour, or acts which are detrimental to the interests of the game.”
Authorities also stressed that the severity of punishment depends on the intent, context and gravity of the act.
Legal Background on Vaping
Officials also highlighted that e-cigarettes are banned in India under a 2019 law that bans their production, sale and distribution. Violation may result in imprisonment of up to one year or fine.
The controversy adds to a series of off-field issues for the franchise this season. Earlier, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined for violating PMOA protocols after he was seen using a mobile phone in the dugout.
IPL and BCCI officials reportedly consider the latest incident to be avoidable, especially given the constant scrutiny of players under broadcast cameras and social media coverage.
Rajasthan Royals next face Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on Friday night, in what promises to be a crucial encounter in their campaign.
