Rajasthan Royals team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder has been fined INR 1 lakh for breaching the BCCI IPL PMOA Protocols during Match 16 between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the ACA Stadium, Guwahati, played on April 10, 2026. The matter drew immediate attention when footage of Bhinder, popularly known as Romi, scrolling through his mobile phone in the team dugout began circulating on social media. Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was seated behind him at the time, and the visual quickly became the subject of scrutiny across cricket circles.
The dugout is treated as a restricted and high-security zone in IPL matches, with strict monitoring in place to ensure compliance with anti-corruption measures. The incident was picked up by BCCI officials and set in motion a formal investigation by the board's dedicated anti-corruption arm. A BCCI official acknowledged that Bhinder had violated the protocol, noting that such rules are in place to prevent any form of external influence during matches.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Bhinder serves as the local guardian for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the IPL season, a detail that added a layer of context to his presence in the dugout alongside the young cricketer. His role with the franchise, however, does not exempt him from the provisions of the PMOA regulations, which apply uniformly across team support staff present in restricted match areas.
The Legal Framework: What Article 4.1.1 Says
The fine was imposed for a breach of Article 4.1.1 of the BCCI IPL PMOA, Players and Match Officials Area, Protocols, which explicitly states that the team manager may use a phone in the dressing room but not in the dugout. This distinction between the dressing room and the dugout is central to the case. The rules do not bar a team manager from possessing or using a mobile phone entirely, but they draw a clear and firm line at the boundary of the playing area's dugout zone.
The Player and Match Officials Area protocols prohibit the use of mobile phones and electronic communication equipment by most personnel. While team managers are permitted to use phones within the privacy of the dressing room for administrative duties, the regulations strictly forbid their use in the dugout. This prohibition is rooted in the broader anti-corruption architecture of the IPL, which is designed to eliminate any possibility of match-related information being relayed in real time from within the team enclosure during live play.
As this was Bhinder's first breach under the prescribed protocols, a fine of INR 1 lakh has been imposed in accordance with Article 7.42(a) of the BCCI IPL PMOA Protocols. Article 7.42(a) governs the penalties applicable to first-time violations of PMOA conduct guidelines, and the quantum of penalty is determined in proportion to the nature and severity of the breach as well as the individual's prior compliance record.
Investigation, Response, and the ACSU's Decision
Following a thorough investigation by the BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder was issued a fine and a formal warning for using a mobile phone within the dugout, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirming the outcome.
Bhinder told the ACU that the breach was inadvertent. He admitted to the offence and offered an unconditional apology. Bhinder, who has been with Rajasthan Royals since 2008, is also believed to have cited ailing from Type 2 lung failure in his response. Sources had previously indicated that the medical condition required him to keep his phone accessible at all times, which formed part of the explanation he submitted before the anti-corruption unit. Investigators ultimately accepted his explanation, noting that a specific medical condition necessitated the use of the device at that time, and the board expressed satisfaction with the context provided, leading to a more lenient penalty than might otherwise be expected.
The inquiry focused strictly on Bhinder's actions, with no formal discussion or disciplinary action taken regarding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the young player who was seated next to the manager when the phone was in use. The ACSU's conclusion was clear, the breach was attributable solely to Bhinder, and Sooryavanshi was not drawn into the disciplinary proceedings in any capacity.
Acknowledging the lapse, Bhinder admitted to the offence and offered an unconditional apology. He has also been warned to exercise greater care in the future and to adhere strictly to the established guidelines. The warning forms part of the official record and will be taken into account in the event of any future violation. As matters stand on the field, Rajasthan Royals are currently third on the IPL 2026 points table, having won four out of five matches this season, with their next fixture scheduled against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 19. The disciplinary action against their team manager does not affect the franchise's on-field standing, but it adds to the regulatory scrutiny that IPL teams routinely navigate across the course of a long season.
Bhinder has been a mainstay within the Rajasthan Royals organization since the league's inception in 2008, serving the franchise in various capacities over the years. The fine brings to a close what had become one of the more closely watched off-field episodes of the IPL 2026 season, and underlines the BCCI's continued commitment to enforcing anti-corruption safeguards within all restricted areas of play.
