Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder, who has been under scrutiny after being seen using a mobile phone in the players’ area during the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati, could still escape with only a mild consequence. The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) issued a notice to Bhinder after his phone use was flagged during the April 10 encounter. While a formal decision has not yet been made, the prevailing expectation is that the matter will likely be treated as a procedural slip rather than a major offence—meaning the punishment, if any, may be limited to a warning or a fine. A longer suspension or any ban appears unlikely.
One internal view is that Bhinder’s conduct was not appropriate and lacked discretion, but there is no sign the incident was driven by any intent to breach anti-corruption rules. The ACSU, however, will still weigh all aspects of the case before arriving at a final call. Health factors could play a significant role in the outcome, with it being noted that the manager has been dealing with serious medical issues. As the process moves forward, the ACSU is understood to have the discretion to consider those circumstances when deciding the scale of any sanction.
After receiving the show-cause communication, Bhinder is understood to have replied within the required 48-hour window. He is said to have provided the relevant information and supporting documents, including medical records, and he may also have offered an apology as part of his response. His illness is not new to those close to him: it has involved severe lung-related problems, and at one stage—when he was living in Nagpur—doctors reportedly had little hope. Friends and family were even informed about how critical his condition had become. Bhinder is also understood to have alerted the BCCI in advance about his health status.
The trigger for the ACSU action was Bhinder being seen with a mobile handset during the Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru match in Guwahati on April 10. He was positioned close to the dugout, and there has been debate about whether he was technically inside the dugout area or just outside it. Later footage circulated showing him seated in front of a refrigerator with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage batting prospect, beside him, both appearing to look at the phone. Under the PMOA guidelines, team managers are allowed to carry and use mobile phones only within the dressing room. In this instance, the concern is that Bhinder’s phone use happened beyond the permitted zone.
