The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has launched a formal inquiry into Rajasthan Royals’ team manager, Romi Bhinder, for using a mobile phone in the dugout during an IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The incident, caught on camera at the ACA Stadium, has sparked concerns about potential breaches of anti-corruption protocols within the league.
According to IPL’s regulations, a Team Manager is permitted to use a phone in the dressing room area but not in the dugout. The BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is currently investigating the matter to determine if any rules were violated by Bhinder. The ACU is scrutinizing the details of the incident to ascertain if the phone was taken beyond the designated area without proper authorization.
The tournament rules stipulate that two BCCI Anti-Corruption Managers oversee the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) to ensure compliance with security measures. As the investigation unfolds, it will be crucial to establish whether Bhinder’s actions were in line with the league’s protocols. The ACU will conduct a thorough examination of the phone’s data and may question the individuals involved to determine the nature of the phone usage.
With Rajasthan Royals scheduled to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the focus remains on monitoring Bhinder’s presence in the PMOA area. If the ACU finds no evidence of wrongdoing, Bhinder may receive a warning or face a fine, depending on the outcome of the investigation. Bhinder, a longstanding member of RR’s staff, also acts as a local guardian for player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the IPL matches.
