The footage, reportedly recorded from a nearby balcony, shows Rabada in an open area alongside members of the team staff during the ongoing season. While smoking is not explicitly prohibited under professional cricket regulations, the visuals have sparked debate over player conduct and discipline during a high-profile tournament like the Indian Premier League.
This is not the first time Rabada has been involved in controversy. Earlier, he had admitted to testing positive for recreational drug use, which led to a provisional suspension and an abrupt exit from the IPL 2025 season on April 3. At that time, his franchise had cited personal reasons for his departure without giving further details.
It was later revealed that the incident was linked to his participation in the SA20 tournament earlier in the year, where he represented MI Cape Town. He was subsequently handed a one-month ban from April 1 to May 1.
In a statement released through the South African Cricketers’ Association, Rabada apologised and took full responsibility for his actions, saying he deeply regretted letting people down and vowed to return stronger to the game.
Currently representing Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, Rabada has taken 10 wickets so far and remains an important member of the Shubman Gill-led side despite the ongoing scrutiny.
