R Ashwin reminds Riyan Parag of his 'responsibilities' following viral vaping incident during IPL 2026

R Ashwin also a piece of advice for Riyan Parag while reminding the 24-year-old of "some responsibility".

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 taking a rigorous turn as the teams fight for the top four spots, the tournament has equally been marred with several controversies. While Rajasthan Royals (RR) franchise manager Ravinder ‘Romi’ Bhinder came into the limelight after he was caught using his cellphone in the dugout, RR skipper Riyan Parag has been in talks for using a vape inside the dressing room. 

Although this is not the first instance of a player using a vape in the dressing room, it got attention for defying the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as well as cricketing protocols. Although the Assam-born has faced ire for his action, giving 25 per cent of his match fees as a penalty, he also got attention from several former players, including Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin, who is part of the broadcasting panel this season, responded to the act while sharing his opinion that these episodes should be avoided. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated, “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 offers sympathy for Riyan Parag; shares a piece of advice

Addressing his fans, followers via his YouTube channel, Ashwin also stressed that such incidents should not be simply brushed aside and require stringent action. “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 a public space, that can very well be avoided,” he continued.

The spin wizard also shared a piece of advice, where he asserted, “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.“

While the RR skipper has been charged with a fine as well as a demerit point for his actions during the game against Punjab Kings (PBKS), he would look to shift his focus on his performance, which has been out of touch so far. The 24-year-old has only amassed 117 runs across 9 matches in IPL 2026, striking at the rate of 124.46 and registering a highest score of only 29 runs.