FACT Check: Did Kagiso Rabada Smoke Amid IPL 2026, Video Viral

A viral post on X claims that Kagiso Rabada Gujarat Titans' star pacer, was seen smoking during IPL 2026 in an off-field moment. However, there is no confirmation of this from any reliable or well-known news sources so far. The claim is only based on a social media post.

It’s worth noting that Kagiso Rabada has faced off-field issues in the past, including a temporary suspension in 2025 after testing positive for a recreational drug, which he later admitted to and worked through with a rehab program.

That test sample was taken in January during the SA20 tournament, and reports later confirmed that the substance found in his system was cocaine. Following this, he received a provisional suspension and had to leave IPL 2025 early, with the reason initially described as “personal.”

Was Kagiso Rabada Smoking During IPL 2026?

As of now, there is a viral video circulating on X, which shows Kagiso Rabada smoking, and a few members of the Gujarat Titans support staff around him, but the video has not been verified. Any such viral claim should be viewed with caution, as it may be a manipulated video, until it is verified.

Previously, Kagiso Rabada faced a major setback in 2025 when he tested positive for a recreational drug. Under South Africa’s anti-doping rules, cases involving recreational drugs can lead to shorter bans if the player admits the mistake and completes a treatment program. Rabada accepted his error and went through the required rehabilitation process, which reduced his suspension to about a month.

It was also noted that the drug use happened outside of competition, meaning it wasn’t used to gain any performance advantage, but it still counted as a violation because it showed up in testing. He later apologised publicly, took full responsibility, and was allowed to return to professional cricket in May 2025.