The BCCI has launched a formal probe into Rajasthan Royals (RR) team manager Romi Bhinder after a clip circulated showing him using a mobile phone in the dugout during the side’s IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Guwahati. The incident was recorded by television cameras at the ACA Stadium, where Bhinder appeared to be seated alongside teenage left-handed opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was seen looking at the screen of the device.
BCCI ACU investigation sparked by viral dugout footage
Officials are now examining whether Bhinder’s phone use crossed the boundaries set by the tournament’s anti-corruption framework. The footage, which quickly went viral online, has prompted fresh scrutiny of whether RR’s backroom staff complied with league rules meant to prevent any improper communication or information-gathering during match time.
What the PMOA rules allow—and what they forbid
Under the IPL’s Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) regulations, team managers are permitted to carry a mobile phone, but only within the dressing room zone. The rule is explicit that phones should not be used in the dugout.
- A team manager may carry a phone in the dressing room area under the PMOA framework.
- Using a phone in the dugout is not allowed as per the regulations.
- The key question being investigated is whether the device was taken into the designated PMOA space correctly and whether permission, if required, was obtained.
ACU process underway; what happens next for RR
Speaking on Sunday, BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) verification was confirmed, with the investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the phone’s location and use during the Guwahati fixture. The ACU will review evidence first, follow due procedure, and then submit a report based on what it finds.
Saikia said the unit will examine both compliance and context—specifically which area the phone entered and whether due permission was sought—before determining whether any IPL protocol or regulation was breached. He added that the ACU has already started the process to see if the mobile was brought into the restricted area or beyond it.
As part of the tournament’s structure, PMOA management is handled by two BCCI Anti-Corruption Managers appointed under the head of the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). Their role includes ensuring arrangements are in place and that security personnel are properly briefed.
Potential consequences and the next match in Hyderabad
With RR scheduled to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, it will be watched closely whether Bhinder is seen again in the PMOA region under the same circumstances. Bhinder has been a long-standing member of RR’s backroom staff since 2008, and he also acts as Sooryavanshi’s “local guardian” during the IPL.
One point emphasised in the discussion around the clip is that the phone is meant to be used only in emergency situations. The visible behaviour in the screengrab has led to speculation that Bhinder may have been checking content using services like Google or browsing social media such as WhatsApp or Instagram.
However, the ACU’s ability to access and analyse what was on the device during the relevant period is central to the depth of the probe. A source familiar with PMOA and ACU operations noted that the unit could retrieve the full data from the phone used during that time and, if necessary, ask the player what he was specifically viewing.
- The phone is intended for emergencies only.
- The ACU may be able to extract complete data from the device used during the incident.
- Officials could question the player about what was being viewed on the screen.
If the ACU officials and the match referee in Guwahati determine there was nothing suspicious, Bhinder could be cleared with a warning. Alternatively, the franchise could face a fine ranging from 10% to 20%, depending on what the investigation concludes.
