Rajasthan Royals have been thrust into a fresh controversy during IPL 2026 after team manager Romi Bhinder was caught using his mobile phone while seated in the dugout against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday. The incident, flagged by an emerging video on social media, is said to have taken place during the 11th over of the contest and has raised questions over adherence to the BCCI’s anti-corruption and PMOA-related standards. As of now, neither the franchise nor the league has released an official clarification.
Key takeaways
- Romi Bhinder’s alleged phone use in the dugout has triggered a controversy under IPL/BCCI anti-corruption expectations.
- The episode occurred in the 11th over of the match versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- A video shows Bhinder seated next to Rajasthan’s 15-year-old batting prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- IPL’s PMOA guidelines allow a team manager to carry a phone but prohibit using it in the dugout.
- Match officials and the anti-corruption unit could potentially take action if the footage is deemed sufficient.
- Lalit Modi has publicly demanded immediate steps after questioning why enforcement has not followed.
What the PMOA protocol allows—and bans
The dispute centres on the “PMOA PROTOCOL – 2026” document published on the IPL’s official platform. Under these rules, a team manager is permitted to bring a phone into the PMOA zone, but the device cannot be operated there except for narrowly defined permissions. The protocol further states that mobile phones and other electronic communication tools should not be used within the PMOA area aside from a limited group of personnel connected with the team.
It also makes a specific distinction for where usage is permitted: the team manager may use a phone in the dressing room area, but using it in the dugout is explicitly disallowed. This is the part of the guideline that has brought the Bhinder video into focus, particularly because he was reportedly scrolling while positioned close to players.
Potential next steps and calls for action
If the social media footage is judged to be credible and enough to establish a breach, Bhinder could be summoned by the match referee and the anti-corruption unit. The episode has already sparked intense debate online, and the IPL Governing Council may move to issue an update following any review process.
One IPL official highlighted that the rules leave no room for interpretation: managers and media managers may carry phones, but the framework around when and where they can be used is clear. The official also pointed out that Bhinder appeared to be seated alongside players who could potentially have noticed what was on his screen while he scrolled, calling it a serious lapse that should be investigated.
Lalit Modi weighs in
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi reacted strongly after seeing the alleged dugout phone use. He described it as an absolute “no,” stressing that the IPL regulations clearly forbid having a phone in the dugout and questioning why anti-corruption authorities had not acted yet. In posts on X (formerly Twitter) dated April 11, 2026, he reiterated the demand for immediate action by the IPL governing body.
In a separate post, Lalit Modi again underlined the same point—criticising the absence of action from the anti-corruption setup—while drawing attention to the alleged rule violation shown in the viral clip.
No official statement yet
At the time of writing, there has been no official statement from either the Rajasthan Royals or the IPL regarding the incident or whether any probe has been initiated.
