Rajasthan Royals backroom staffer Romi Bhinder has found himself in the spotlight after footage surfaced of him using a mobile phone inside the team dugout during RR’s IPL 2026 game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati on Friday. The incident quickly drew attention on social media and has now triggered questions over a potential breach of league protocol.
Key takeaways
- Romi Bhinder, long associated with Rajasthan Royals’ support staff since the IPL began in 2008, was filmed using a phone in the dugout during the match in Guwahati.
- The league has not yet laid any charge against Bhinder under the IPL’s code of conduct.
- Officials have confirmed that cell phones are prohibited in the PMOA/dugout area during matches.
- RR beat RCB by six wickets, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named Player of the Match for a 26-ball 78.
- Sooryavanshi’s knock propelled him to the top of the Orange Cap standings for most runs in the tournament.
What the footage showed and what officials have said
Multiple posts from after the contest showed Bhinder seated in the dugout with a mobile phone, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi positioned alongside him. The matter was later verified to involve Bhinder—who serves as the RR team manager and also acts as Sooryavanshi’s “local guardian” during his IPL stint—using the device during the game.
Even with the attention around the clip, Bhinder had not been charged so far for any violation of the IPL’s code of conduct at the time of reporting.
A BCCI official clarified that this constitutes a breach of the protocol: phones are not allowed in the players’ and match officials’ area (PMOA) during the match. The official also acknowledged that the action might have been accidental, but stressed that some form of response is still required because it falls under the league’s restricted conduct.
The official further explained that what happens next—ranging from a warning to a potential match ban—will depend on the match referee’s assessment and the anti-corruption unit (ACU) report. The IPL governing council will then take the final call based on those inputs.
IPL 2026 PMOA rules and match outcome
On the IPL’s official platform, the relevant PMOA protocol for 2026 makes the distinction clear: while a team manager may use a phone in the dressing room, use is not permitted in the dugout.
In the same fixture, Rajasthan Royals successfully chased down their target to secure a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played the starring role, earning Player of the Match honours for his 26-ball 78, a knock that also lifted him to the top of the Orange Cap list for most runs in the tournament.
