Rajasthan Royals’ long-serving team manager Romi Bhinder has come under scrutiny after being filmed using a mobile phone while seated in the dugout alongside teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during an IPL match. The episode, which drew immediate online attention, has now been confirmed as a breach of match-day protocol, with the BCCI expected to take the matter forward through its anti-corruption processes.
Key takeaways
- Romi Bhinder was spotted using a phone from inside the Royals’ dugout during the IPL 2026 game versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati.
- The breach relates to PMOA rules, which prohibit cell phones in the dugout during a match.
- BCCI has indicated action is required after the incident, though whether it results in a warning or a ban will depend on the match referee’s view and the ACSU/ACU report.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s post-match comments referring to Bhinder as his “local guardian” could add to the attention on the case.
- The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit is expected to investigate and submit a report to the head of the unit before penalties are decided.
How the incident was revealed and verified
The episode first surfaced after an influencer shared it on Instagram, but it was later established that Bhinder was indeed using a mobile device during Rajasthan’s six-wicket triumph in Guwahati. The incident occurred in the team’s dugout setting during the IPL 2026 contest against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday.
Following the circulation of the footage, the BCCI offered its initial response, confirming that Bhinder had violated the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol. The board’s position is that phones are not allowed in the dugout during a match, making the act a clear rules breach.
On the IPL’s official platform, the relevant PMOA clause for 2026 underlines that while a team manager may use a phone in the dressing room, it must not be used in the dugout. Given Bhinder’s long association with the franchise since its beginning, observers believe he should have been fully aware of the anti-corruption and match integrity expectations tied to the PMOA environment.
What action could follow
Senior board officials indicated that even if the phone use was unintentional, some form of consequence is necessary due to the nature of the protocol violation. The final outcome—whether it takes the form of a warning or a ban—will depend on what the match referee decides and what emerges from the anti-corruption unit’s report. After those inputs, the IPL’s disciplinary governance process can then take a call on the appropriate sanction.
Further pressure may come from the wider context of Bhinder’s presence during the post-match proceedings. Sooryavanshi, during the presentation after the game, referred to Bhinder as his “local guardian”, a line that has since become part of the discussion around why the incident drew attention beyond the dugout alone.
Investigation and potential penalties
An IPL dugout is treated as a high-security area designed to prevent any outside influence on the contest. Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi publicly raised questions about the situation, specifically pointing to the absence or whereabouts of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) officers at the time of the filming.
The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit is expected to conduct the investigation. After the inquiry, a report will be prepared and submitted to the head of the ACU. The nature of the penalty for Bhinder will be based on what is contained in that report and the subsequent review process.
Possible punishments could include a significant fine or a temporary suspension from the PMOA. Such a suspension would effectively keep him out of the dugout and dressing room for upcoming matches, depending on the final decision.
With PTI Inputs
