BCCI’s anti-corruption unit will launch an investigation into Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder after he was found using a phone in the dugout during the match against RCB in Guwahati.
Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder will come under the scanner as BCCI’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) will launch an investigation into him using a phone inside the RR dugout during the match against RCB.
Talking to Aajtak, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said they have directed the ACU to enquire and submit a report on the matter as soon as possible. He said a few officials are allowed to have a phone in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA). Dhumal said that they are checking if Bhinder is one of the officials who has been given allowance to bring a phone into the dugout, and the ACU will call him to investigate the issue and take a decision.
WHAT IS THE ROMI BHINDER CONTROVERSY?
Rajasthan Royals’ team manager Romi Bhinder has come under scrutiny after TV cameras captured him using a mobile phone in the dugout during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati.
The footage, initially shared by a social media influencer, shows Bhinder with teen player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi beside him during the Royals’ six-wicket victory on Friday. Speaking to PTI, a BCCI official confirmed that Bhinder breached the PMOA protocol, which prohibits mobile phone use in the dugout.
“Yes, Bhinder has indeed breached the protocol of Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) as cell phones are banned in the dugout during match,” a BCCI source told PTI.
“It could be inadvertent but there has to be some action since it amounts to breach. Whether it will be warning or match ban will depend on match referee and ACU report. Based on that IPL GC can take a call,” the source added.
The controversy arose when cameras caught Bhinder using a mobile phone in the dugout, a restricted area under IPL rules. The incident occurred during Rajasthan Royals’ chase of 202, shortly after Sooryavanshi’s dismissal.
While it remains unclear what the device was being used for, the act itself raised concerns due to the strict restrictions around electronic communication in match areas.
The video quickly circulated on social media, drawing criticism, including from former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, who questioned the oversight by anti-corruption officers.
WHAT DOES THE RULE SAY?
The IPL’s 2026 PMOA protocol clearly states that mobile phones are banned in the dugout. The Team Manager may use a phone only in the dressing room but not in the dugout. All players and support staff must switch off mobile phones and smartwatches upon arrival and hand them to the Team Security Liaison Officer for storage.
Only the team analyst is permitted to use a computer at the designated analyst table. The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards communication devices in the dugout, viewing any breach as a serious offence.
