Rajasthan Royals (RR), who are performing brilliantly in the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), now seem to be embroiled in a new controversy. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has started an investigation against team manager Romi Bhinder. The allegation is that he has violated the rules of the designated area for players and match officials, i.e. PMOA. Now BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has given a statement in this matter.
This matter came to light when a video taken during a match on April 10 went viral on social media. In the video, Romi Bhinder is seen using a mobile phone while sitting in the dugout. Young player Vaibhav Suryavanshi is also seen sitting near him. Under the strict rules of IPL, the use of mobile phones is banned in the PMOA area, which has made the matter more serious.
Also read: Shubman Gill created history in IPL, broke Virat Kohli’s 10 year old record
What do the rules of IPL say?
As per IPL protocol, there is a strict ban on the use of any kind of electronic device in the PMOA area, to prevent any kind of extraneous or suspicious communication during the match. Although some officials like team managers and doctors are allowed to keep mobile phones with them, clear and strict guidelines have been set regarding its use.
BCCI started investigation process
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, while clarifying on the matter, said that the board is analyzing the footage closely. He told Hindustan Times Digital, ‘As per the rules, managers and doctors are allowed to have mobile phones with them, so having a phone nearby is not a violation. We are investigating whether he has misused it by going against the existing IPL protocol. The board’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) is trying to confirm whether he was using the phone for any unauthorized communication.
Also read: LSG vs GT: Gujarat got its second win in IPL 2026, Lucknow lost by 7 wickets.
Such a case has come up before too
It is noteworthy that before this, mentor and manager of Pakistan Under-19 team Sarfaraz Ahmed has also been embroiled in a similar controversy. However, under International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, managers can use phones for cricket-related work, but IPL rules are considered more strict. Now the investigation report of BCCI in this matter is awaited, on the basis of which further action will be decided.
Comments are closed.