A mobile phone in the wrong place has put Rajasthan Royals in the middle of an IPL 2026 controversy.
Team manager Romi Bhinder was caught on camera using his phone in the dugout during RR’s match against RCB in Guwahati, in clear violation of the IPL’s PMOA rules. The BCCI’s ACSU has now served him a formal show-cause notice.
What Happened
Romi Bhinder, a long-serving Rajasthan Royals team manager since the IPL’s 2008 inception, was caught on camera using his mobile phone in the team dugout during RR’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati on April 10, 2026.
The incident occurred during the 11th over of the RR chase. Bhinder was using his phone while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, sitting to his right, was seen looking at the screen.
The video was first shared on social media and spread quickly. It prompted the BCCI to step in.
What the Rules Say
As per the IPL’s official PMOA Protocol 2026: “The team manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.”
Players and support staff must switch off their mobile phones and smartwatches upon arrival and hand them over to the Team Security Liaison Officer for storage. The only person allowed to use a computer at the designated analyst table is the team analyst.
The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on communication devices in the dugout, treating any breach as a serious violation.
BCCI Confirms the Breach
A BCCI official confirmed the protocol violation. “Bhinder has indeed breached the protocol of the Players and Match Officials Area as cell phones are banned in the dugout during the match,” a BCCI official said.
BCCI’s Saikia confirmed that the Anti-Corruption Unit has begun the process of examining whether Bhinder took the mobile phone into a restricted area and whether due permission was sought.
The BCCI’s ACSU has since served Bhinder a formal show-cause notice and asked for his response within 48 hours.
The Medical Angle
New details have emerged about why Bhinder had his phone in the dugout.
As per reports, Bhinder had previously suffered a collapsed lung condition requiring hospitalisation and ventilator support. He was admitted to a Nagpur hospital for nearly a month and reportedly lost more than 10 kg of body weight. He also has asthma and has been advised not to walk long distances or climb stairs frequently.
A source close to the development explained that the physical challenge of returning to the dressing room was significant. Bhinder would have had to walk at least 50 steps and then climb around 20 more steps to reach the dressing room, and repeat the same on the way back. That may have forced him to use the phone at the dugout itself.
Bhinder has been an integral member of RR’s backroom staff since 2008 and also serves as Sooryavanshi’s local guardian in the IPL.
What Could Happen Next
If Bhinder is found to have not done anything suspicious by the ACU officers and the match referee, he may be let off with a warning, or a fine of 10 to 20 percent could be levied on the franchise.
Two BCCI anti-corruption officers present at the match will submit a report to the Head of the ACSU. Bhinder may also face penalties including fines or temporary suspension from the PMOA.
The investigation is ongoing. It remains to be seen how the ACSU weighs Bhinder’s medical situation against the technical breach of protocol.
