Rajasthan Royals (RR) team manager Romi Bhinder has been hit with a ₹1 lakh fine by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) for using a mobile phone in the team's dugout during an IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The violation, which occurred on April 10th in Guwahati, also resulted in a final warning from the governing body. The BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) found Bhinder's initial explanation for the breach "unsatisfactory."
The core issue revolves around the strict prohibition of communication devices within the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), which includes the dugout. While phones are permitted in the dressing room for emergencies, they must be switched off and handed over to a security liaison officer upon arrival at the stadium. This rule applies to players and support staff, with specific allowances for analysts at their designated tables. The ACU had previously informed teams of these regulations.
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The incident came to light after images of Bhinder using his phone in the dugout circulated on social media. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the ACU's investigation and stated that the incident, a contravention of Article 4.1.1 of the IPL PMOA protocols, was acknowledged by Bhinder as inadvertent.
While the explanation provided by Bhinder cited a past medical emergency and his role as the local guardian for young RR player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as reasons for the phone's presence, the BCCI maintained that the response was not sufficiently satisfactory to negate the protocol breach. Investigators ultimately accepted the context but opted for a monetary penalty rather than a ban, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to anti-corruption protocols. The board hopes this action will serve as a deterrent to all stakeholders.
