Romi Bhinder was seen using his mobile phone in RR dugout with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi watching.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has broken their silence on the latest controversy around Rajasthan Royals (RR) team manager Romi Bhinder allegedly using a mobile phone in the dugout during the IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has stated that the board will conduct a proper investigation and minutely examine the matter before taking any action. However, based on his remarks, it seems that even after two full days, the BCCI has not yet started an investigation into the issue.
“Certain individuals are allowed to carry phones in the dugout, and Romi Bhinder, as a manager, can carry it. But we need to thoroughly examine where exactly the event happened and whether the phone was used. We will conduct an internal examination before reaching a logical conclusion,” Saikia told Times of India.
Bhinder was seen swiping through his phone inside the dugout as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was staring at the screen. The incident was caught on camera during RR's chase in Guwahati on Friday. The IPL's PMOA Protocol-2026 makes it very clear that managers are not permitted to use phones outside of the dressing room.
“As I said, we will examine it. We can’t act on what is being said. We will see the pictures, video, and whatever we can get before reaching the conclusion,” Saikia added.
Looking at the pictures and videos that have gone viral, Bhinder was not only seen using the phone in the dugout, but he also did so in front of a player.
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has also reacted strongly to the situation, urging the governing council to take "immediate action." He called using a cell phone in the dugout a "complete no-no" and questioned how such an incident could occur while the anti-corruption team was in charge.
It will be fascinating to watch if Bhinder is permitted in the RR dugout when the Rajasthan Royals play Sunrisers Hyderabad in their upcoming game tomorrow.
According to a source cited by the TOI, the BCCI should have seized and examined the utilized gadget as its initial course of action.
“The BCCI must investigate the matter thoroughly. For starters, the communication device needs to be seized and scanned. This is a serious violation, and it can’t be allowed to pass. Even the players sitting next to him need to be questioned and warned about the act. As far as the sanctions are concerned, it depends on the match referee and ACU wing; the penalty could range from a fine to a match ban or even more. A manager may carry a phone but is strictly forbidden from using it in the dugout when multiple cameras track every moment. The act was aired live, and it raises serious questions,” the TOI report added.
(Times of India report)