NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was caught on camera using a mobile phone from within the team’s dugout during the club’s match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati on Friday. The episode was flagged as a breach of the PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) rules, with the timing placing it during the 11th over of the Royals’ chase. Bhinder was reportedly scrolling on his phone while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, seated to his right, appeared to be looking at the screen.
The IPL’s official “PMOA PROTOCOL – 2026” document, released before the tournament began, outlines that while certain personnel may carry phones, they are not permitted to operate them inside the dugout. It specifically lays down that mobile devices and other electronic communication equipment cannot be used in the PMOA except for a limited set of individuals, with strict boundaries around where phone use is allowed.
What the PMOA protocol says about phone use
Per the protocol, mobile phones and other forms of electronic communication equipment are not allowed to be used in the PMOA except for a few designated members of the team. The team manager is permitted to use a phone only within the dressing room zone, but not in the dugout.
In addition to the team manager, the media manager is also allowed to have a phone in the PMOA, though the document makes clear that any phone-related activity is governed by detailed usage conditions set out in the protocol released ahead of the season. The incident involving Bhinder has since spread widely across social media, and it is still unclear how the IPL’s governing body will respond.
Given the nature of the violation, Bhinder may be called up by the match referee and the anti-corruption unit for further review. An IPL official also suggested that the circumstances leave little room for interpretation, pointing to the fact that Bhinder was seated beside players who appeared to watch his screen while he used the device.
“Managers and media managers carry the phone but the rules regarding its use are very clear. Using it in the dugout is a serious lapse because Romi was sitting next to players who looked at his screen when he was scrolling. There is no grey area here and now it’s up to the officials to investigate the matter,” the IPL official said.
Meanwhile, IPL founder Lalit Modi posted on X about the matter, urging the Governing Council to take “IMMEDIATE ACTION.”
Which areas fall under PMOA and how phones are handled
The PMOA coverage includes dressing rooms, players’ external viewing zones, the TV/third umpire space, the match referee’s room, players’ and match officials’ dining areas, dugouts, and any other zones identified by the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Manager. The protocol also states that two BCCI Anti-Corruption Managers, appointed by the Head of the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), are responsible for ensuring the necessary arrangements are in place at least 30 minutes before the teams arrive.
Before teams take the field, players and support staff are required to deposit their phones and retrieve them only after the match ends. The document further specifies that only a select group of team members may use phones or other communication devices, and that the boundaries for such use are clearly defined in the PMOA protocol.
