Lucknow Super Giants found themselves at the centre of a social media storm during their IPL 2026 encounter with Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, after a backroom staff member was alleged to have breached a BCCI protocol by using a mobile phone from the dugout area.
The moment came in the early stages of the contest at Chepauk, with the incident occurring in the opening over. A broadcast camera briefly captured the individual during a replay sequence featuring Josh Inglis’ boundary off the fifth delivery of the innings, bowled by Akeal Hossein. The clip spread rapidly online, and some fans speculated that the act may have violated the IPL’s PMOA guidelines, which govern restricted zones around players and match officials.
What the IPL PMOA rules say
Under the PMOA (Player and Match Officials Area) protocol, mobile phones and other electronic communication devices are not permitted in the designated PMOA spaces.
- The PMOA includes dressing rooms and players’ external match-viewing areas.
- It covers the TV and third umpire rooms.
- The match referee’s room falls under the same restriction.
- Players’ and match officials’ dining areas are also included.
- Dugouts are part of the restricted zone, along with any other area marked by the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Manager.
The rules also clarify that while certain electronic devices may be present inside the dugout, they can only be used by the team’s designated analyst from the approved analyst table during the match.
That said, the online speculation around the Sunday incident was later dismissed. It was subsequently clarified that the person shown in the camera footage was not connected to the Lucknow dugout. Still, the stadium section where the individual was seated at the time could not be independently confirmed.
Similar breach earlier in IPL 2026
This was not the first time the same type of rule-breaking allegation had surfaced during IPL 2026. Earlier in the season, Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was reported to have violated the PMOA protocol during their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati.
That case gained attention after images circulated online showing Bhinder using a mobile phone while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was seated beside him during the game.
Following that incident, Bhinder was fined INR 1 lakh by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit for breaching the IPL’s PMOA guidelines. In his response, Bhinder admitted to the offence, described the breach as inadvertent, and issued an unconditional apology. He also stated that he suffers from Type 2 lung failure, and the BCCI accepted that explanation.
