Chahal Alleged Vaping on Team Flight Sparks IPL Controversy

A viral video clip has sparked controversy around Punjab Kings spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who appears to be vaping on a team flight from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad ahead of an Indian Premier League match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 6, 2026.

The footage, drawn from a vlog posted by teammate Arshdeep Singh on his YouTube channel, shows Chahal seated near the window beside Shashank Singh, seemingly concealing a device before exhaling what looks like vapor and coughing. The original video was quickly edited and reuploaded in a shorter version, with the relevant segments removed, according to social media users who shared screenshots. Neither Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, nor the Punjab Kings franchise has issued a statement, and the clip's authenticity remains unverified.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism online and from former players, coming amid India's nationwide ban on e-cigarettes under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act of 2019, which prohibits production, sale, storage, and use. Vaping is also forbidden on aircraft under Directorate General of Civil Aviation rules, where devices must remain powered off in carry-on bags due to fire risks from lithium batteries....