The IPL 2026 season delivered plenty of on-field action, but it also made headlines for a series of off-field incidents involving players and smoking-related controversies. The discussion began when Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was allegedly seen vaping during a match against Punjab Kings.
Shortly afterwards, veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal found himself at the centre of a similar debate after images surfaced of him apparently vaping aboard an aircraft. Now, Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Tim David has become the latest player to attract attention.
A video circulating widely on social media appears to show the Australian power-hitter lighting a cigar while celebrating with teammates at the Narendra Modi Stadium following RCB’s historic IPL title triumph. In the viral clip, David can be seen among several RCB players, with Romario Shepherd standing nearby.
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Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is also visible in the background, seemingly engaged in conversation with a teammate believed to be Phil Salt. The footage quickly sparked debate among cricket fans, leading to widespread speculation online.
Timmy smokes AURA pic.twitter.com/S7Qhlwmy4O
— Dinesh Sahu 🏴🗡 (@DineshX18) June 3, 2026
However, there has been no official confirmation that David was actually smoking a cigar in the video. Despite the lack of verification, the incident gained further traction after fans highlighted an Instagram post David shared following the championship win. In the photo, he is seen posing with the IPL trophy alongside Salt while appearing to hold a cigar.
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The controversy comes just days after David was penalised for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The RCB batter was fined 50 per cent of his match fee and received two demerit points for a Level 1 offence. With his demerit tally now standing at five, David is set to miss his team’s opening match of IPL 2027.
