IPL sanctions Rajasthan captain Parag over vaping. Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Punjab Kings v Rajasthan Royals - Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, India - April 28, 2026 Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag in action REUTERS/Mihir Singh Published Apr 30, 2026, 05:33 PM Updated Apr 30, 2026, 05:38 PM April 30 - Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point for a vaping incident in the dressing room during an Indian Premier League match, the league organisers said on Thursday. Parag, 24, was seen using an e-cigarette in the dressing room during Rajasthan's six-wicket win over Punjab Kings on Tuesday. Vaping is banned in India, including the sale, production, import and advertising of e-cigarettes. The IPL said Parag had breached the provision relating to "conduct that brings the game into disrepute" and accepted both the charge and the penalty imposed by match referee Amit Sharma. Organisers said the Board of Control for Cricket in India was also exploring strict action against the player and team officials to protect the reputation of the IPL. REUTERS Read the full story and more ST One Digital Plan Monthly Recurring $9.90/month No lock-in contract Enjoy these subscriber benefits * Access all subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com * Easy access any time via ST app on one mobile device. * E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

IPL 2026: RR official faces heat as video flags possible anti-corruption breach. In a viral video circulation on social media, RR team manager Romi Bhinder is seen using mobile phone in player's dugout which could be a potential breach of IPL's anti-corruption protocol. Updated on: 12 April 2026 9:51 pm Published at: 12 April 2026 9:47 pm RR's team manager eyes a potential match ban, if the report from match referee flags IPL anti-corruption code breach. Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra Summary of this article. * RR's team manager in trouble after video emerges of him using mobile phone in players dugout * It could be a potential breach of IPL's anti-corruption code * A BCCI official confirmed that action can be taken on RR manger, after report from the match referee Rajasthan Royals (RR) are having a dream run on the field in the current season of the Indian Premier League, with wins in all four matches played so far, but a recent off-the-field controversy has caused turbulence in the franchise's dressing room. In their last match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), RR's long-time team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone during the match in the players' dugout, which is allegedly a breach of the IPL's Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol. The visual of the manager using a mobile phone was seen during the match with teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sitting beside him in the dugout. At that time, it went unnoticed; however, after the match, a social media influencer uploaded the clip on the Instagram, which went viral in no time, causing problems for the RR management and their manager. A BCCI official confirmed to PTI, that the breach of the PMOA has happened. "Yes, Bhinder has indeed breached the protocol of Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) as cell phones are banned in the dugout during match," a BCCI official confirmed. On IPL's official website, the concerned clause regarding PMOA protocol 2026 states: "The Team Manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout." The official also said that the breach made by RR's manager calls for an action but a decision will be taken by the match referee and on the basis of the ACU report. "It could be inadvertent but there has to be some action since it amounts to breach. Whether it will be warning or match ban will depend on match referee and ACU report. Based on that IPL GC can take a call," the senior official said. According to the IPL guidelines on the matter, a team manager is allowed to use a mobile phone only in the dressing room area and not in the dugout. Other than the manager, the only other individual permitted to use electronic devices is the team analyst and that too only at a designated analyst table. Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi also commented on the matter asking league's governing council to look into this matter and take suitable action. "Having a mobile phone in the dugout is a complete no-no. Did this really happen? I hope not. If it did, then the IPL governing council needs to take immediate action," he posted. What is the controversy surrounding RR? In a viral video, RR's team manager is seen using mobile phone in players dugout which could be a potential breach of IPL's anti-corruption protocol. What could be the possible sanctions of RR's team manager? RR's team manager Romi Bhinder could get fined or even match ban, if match report from match referee confirms breach. Get the Latest Cricket News, today's match Live Cricket Scores, Match Results, and upcoming cricket series & schedule at Outlook India. To follow our special coverage of the IPL 2026 News updates, IPL Schedule, IPL teams Squad, IPL 2026 points table, and Stats - most runs (orange cap) & highest wickets (purple cap) holders of IPL 2026. Click/Scan to Subscribe

MobiKwik partners Rajasthan Royals as official payments partner for IPL 2026. Fintech platform makes its first foray into sports partnerships, targeting young, digital-first consumers through cricket-led engagement. 0:00 / 1:50 One MobiKwik Systems Ltd. has announced its first-ever sports partnership, coming on board as the Official Payments Partner for Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026. The association will span co-branded marketing campaigns, on-ground activations, and digital as well as in-app integrations, aimed at offering fans seamless UPI payment solutions alongside access to instant personal loans via the MobiKwik platform. Positioned as more than a commercial tie-up, the partnership is designed to tap into India's young, aspirational audience - an increasingly digital-first generation that relies on UPI for daily transactions and seeks quick access to credit. Rajasthan Royals, known for backing young talent and engaging a digitally native fanbase, aligns with MobiKwik's consumer strategy. The franchise's 2026 squad includes prominent players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Riyan Parag, Jofra Archer, and Shimron Hetmyer, among others. Commenting on the partnership, Bipin Preet Singh, Co-Founder and CEO of MobiKwik, said cricket remains one of India's most powerful unifying forces, with the IPL at the centre of that cultural energy. He added that the collaboration is aimed at embedding MobiKwik's payment and credit ecosystem into high-engagement moments, particularly for younger users. Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer at Rajasthan Royals, said the franchise continues to prioritise meaningful fan engagement and sees the partnership as an opportunity to enhance the overall fan experience during the season. As part of the collaboration, fans can expect exclusive offers, co-branded campaigns, and integrated payment solutions across merchandise and ticketing platforms. The partnership will also feature limited-edition in-app activations and rewards designed to sustain engagement throughout the tournament. Founded in 2009, MobiKwik offers a range of digital payment and financial services, including wallet, UPI, and credit products, serving over 186 million users and nearly 5 million merchants across India.