Star cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal was spotted smoking a suspicious object inside an aeroplane alongside his other Punjab Kings teammates amid the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. In a video uploaded by PBKS pacer Arshdeep Singh on his official YouTube channel, Chahal – seated alongside vice-captain Shashank Singh – could be seen concealing a smoking object while lighting it up.
Fans online were quick to notice the same, with the video spreading like wildfire for unintended reasons. One of the internet users captured a screenshot of the moment where Chahal could be seen smoking and posted it on his ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) account. The post has gone viral on social media within hours of being uploaded online.
The video has surfaced shortly after Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag was caught vaping inside the dressing room. Parag was handed a hefty fine by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amounting to 25 per cent of his match fees. Furthermore, the RR captain was also handed a demerit point for his wrongdoings. Chahal may be eligible for a similar punishment by the board in addition to relevant action being taken by the law enforcement authorities.
BCCI, at the time of Parag’s punishment, had also taken steps to make sure that such incidents do not surface again to maintain the integrity of the IPL and the sport in general, which is a professional game.
“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,” it said in a statement.
Notably, smoking of any form is strictly prohibited in an aeroplane according to Aircraft Rules, 1937, since it can cause a serious hazard, leading to even a life-threatening situation inside the aircraft, whether flying or stationed. The smoking includes electronic cigarettes in addition to the conventional ones. Hence, assuming it’s a case of ‘seeing is believing’, Chahal can be seriously punished, including a fine and/or imprisonment.
A couple of weeks before this incident, Chahal was also seen smoking while driving his car, carelessly throwing the ash and leftovers on the road while his car seemed to be driven at a speed beyond control.
