Former ICC umpire reacts to Riyan Parag’s 'vaping' row, says 'boys should be careful'

Riyan Parag was allegedly seen vaping in the dressing room during Rajasthan Royals’ match against Punjab Kings at Mullanpur Cricket Stadium. The clip quickly went viral, sparking debates over player discipline and the legality of such devices under Indian law. Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary has issued a stern warning to young cricketers, urging them to be mindful of their on-field and off-field conduct during high-profile tournaments.

The incident occurred during the 16th over of RR’s chase, when cameras panned to the dressing room and briefly captured Parag appearing to use a vape device while seated alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen.

"I do not know the legal aspects, but certainly, government rules and other regulations will be there. Sometimes these cameras can go anywhere, so all players should be very careful. These are young lads; they do not know that sometimes they can be caught anywhere except the toilet, so boys should be careful. I think on TV, good things should be shown, and we should discuss the game rather than other things," Chaudhary told IANS on the sidelines of the EUT20 Belgium jersey launch.

Under Indian law, vaping and the use of e-cigarettes are prohibited under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019. The legislation bans the production, sale, purchase, import, export, and advertisement of e-cigarettes and vape devices, with violations attracting imprisonment and significant fines.

While there is no widely publicised cricket-specific rule addressing vaping, the Board of Control for Cricket in India enforces strict codes of conduct for players within stadium premises. The use of tobacco or similar products in dressing rooms or dugouts is generally restricted under health and safety protocols, which could potentially put Riyan Parag at risk of disciplinary action.

Rajasthan Royals secured a thrilling six-wicket win over Punjab Kings, powered by an unbeaten 77-run stand off 32 balls between Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey, who chased down the target in 19.2 overs and handed PBKS their first defeat.

RR’s chase was set up by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (43 off 16) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27), before Yuzvendra Chahal’s three wickets briefly swung momentum back to PBKS. However, Ferreira and Dubey finished strongly under pressure.

Earlier, PBKS had posted 222/4, led by Marcus Stoinis’ 62 off 22* and Prabhsimran Singh’s 59, but their bowlers couldn’t defend the total in the death overs.