Rajasthan Royals breaks silence as Riyan Parag vaping row explodes; Kumar Sangakkara fires strongly-worded message

Hours after BCCI's verdict on Riyan Parag, RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara issued a strongly worded statement on the incident

Updated on: May 1, 2026, 06:13:25 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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The Rajasthan Royals have stayed among the contenders to qualify for the playoffs throughout the first half of the IPL 2026 season. Yet off the field, the inaugural champions have been troubled by controversy. First, it was their team manager, Romi Bhinder, who was spotted using a mobile phone in the dugout during a match. And then days later, a bigger trouble unfolded when captain Riyan Parag was spotted vaping in the dressing room during RR's recent match against the Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh.

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag, left, with team's Head Coach Kumar Sangakkara (PTI)

The Board of Control for India (BCCI) took a strong step against Parag on Thursday, imposing a 25 per cent fine of his match fees and handing him one demerit point.

Hours after the verdict, head coach Kumar Sangakkara issued a strongly worded statement on the incident, saying that the recent controversies have not helped the team, before revealing that the Rajasthan Royals had also addressed the vaping row.

ALSO READ: Rajasthan Royals, officials in firing line as BCCI issues crackdown threat after Riyan Parag vaping row: Devajit Saikia

"Such controversies are no positives for the team and all I can say is that both issues have been addressed by the BCCI and the franchise,” he said on the eve of RR’s match against Delhi Capitals. “It is a reminder to the players that they have to maintain the team’s culture.”

The IPL statement on Parag also mentioned that the BCCI is mulling taking stringent action against the Rajasthan Royals franchise and the its officials as well to ensure that the "reputation of the IPL remains intact."

The statement read: "The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials and player/s to ensure that the reputation of IPL remains intact."

The same was confirmed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who told PTI, "As it is written clearly in the statement, we are exploring what action to take on the team. It is not decided yet."

Rajasthan will next be in action on May 1, against the Delhi Capitals in Jaipur.

Sangakkara also talked about Parag's quiet run in this IPL season so far, as he pointed towards his crucial knock in the win against the Punjab Kings earlier this week. “His little innings shifted the momentum in our way,” Sangakkara said. “He brought the momentum back in our favour.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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