Riyan Parag vape row: Ravichandran Ashwin says 'this could have been avoided'

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has become a talking point after he was spotted vaping inside the dressing room during an IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings. On Thursday, Parag was fined 25 percent of his match fee and handed one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The incident has drawn criticism, with many advising him, as a young player and franchise leader, to set the right example for aspiring cricketers.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also weighed in on the issue, saying the situation could have been avoided.

"I think this is totally a situation that could have been avoided. I want players not to get trapped in such things. I don’t really want that for a young player, and this is a little sensitive, too. I think, on all quadrants, if we look at so many things, this could have been avoided," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

The breach occurred during the second innings of the match in Mullanpur, when Parag was seen vaping inside the dressing room during the live broadcast.

"Sometimes what happens is it’s a personal choice, but your personal choice should be in your personal space. If you do all this in public space, that can very well be avoided. All I would say is this: it's my small advice as an elder brother. I want to tell Riyan Parag that, whatever happens in your personal life, nobody has any concern about it. Nobody can say anything about that. But whatever you do, do it in your personal space, because you are a captain, you are a franchise leader. You are probably an inspiration for many cricketers, many youth, many young Indians, and young people around the world. So there is some responsibility too," he added.

"I have my deepest empathy and sympathy for the young kid, but at the same time, I totally believe all these things should and can be avoided," he added.

"It can’t be easy, man. In today’s world, I also sometimes read things and think, man, I mean, sometimes this happens. I’m not saying these things should be let go under the carpet, because if action isn’t taken, nobody will learn from it. But it is better to avoid these things," he concluded.

Parag admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Amit Sharma. As per IPL regulations, a Level 1 offence carries a fine of 25 percent of the match fee along with one demerit point, with no formal hearing required.

The incident came to the notice of officials after video evidence surfaced, following which on-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon reported the matter, as per PTI.