The Board of Control for Cricket in India has issued a show-cause notice to Romi Bhinder, the team manager of the Rajasthan Royals, after television cameras saw him using a cell phone in the team’s dugout during the IPL match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati.
It has been determined that Bhinder was using a cell phone during the Royals’ six-wicket victory in Guwahati, with teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seated next to him. The event was initially reported on Instagram by a social media influencer.
The relevant PMOA protocol 2026 clause on the IPL’s official website reads, “The Team Manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.”
”The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a show-cause notice to Romi Bhinder, team manager of Rajasthan Royals, for using a mobile handset (a communication device) during their IPL match against recently. The notice, in fact, was sent by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), which has sought a response within 48 hours,” said a Cricbuzz report.
”The charge against the official relates to the use of a mobile phone in the dugout. The team managers are permitted to use a handset, but only within the dressing room. In this instance, he was seen using the phone outside that area. It remains a technicality whether he was inside the dugout, as he was seated in front of a refrigerator that is adjacent to the players’ boundary side enclosure.”
However, there are reports that Bhinder’s medical condition requires him to use a phone. After a protracted medical stay in Nagpur, he just recovered from a severe lung condition.
“Romi has lost more than 10 kilos due to medical issues. He has asthma as well because of which he is advised not to walk a long distance or climb stairs frequently. He is with the team and performed various roles for the franchise. Hence he knows the rules and regulations but that phone was in his possession due to medical reasons. Besides, possessing a mobile phone and a laptop in the dugout is allowed as per the protocol. The only problem was the usage but again he was not making calls or receiving any of them. He was just scrolling his phone. He has time and he will try to explain his point of view to the ACSU officials,” The New Indian Express quoted a source as saying.
