The Board of Control for Cricket in India has served a notice on Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder after he was spotted using a mobile phone in the team dugout during an IPL 2026 fixture. People close to Bhinder say the explanation lies in his health rather than any wrongdoing.
What happened in Guwahati
The episode took place on April 10 in Guwahati, where Rajasthan Royals were playing Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Under the IPL’s Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules, phones may only be used inside the dressing room, and the only electronic devices allowed in the dugout are those handled by designated analysts. Bhinder’s use of a phone is therefore seen as a breach of that protocol.
The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has given him 48 hours to respond in writing. IPL Governing Council chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed that a formal inquiry is under way and that a report has been requested.
Medical explanation
Sources close to the manager have said the phone use was connected to his medical condition. He is reported to have been dealing with serious health problems, including a collapsed lung and asthma, which have limited his ability to move around.
The same sources say he was not making or taking calls and was only scrolling through the device. Because walking back and forth to the dressing room is hard for him, he may have chosen to check the phone where he was sitting.
Wider attention
The matter drew further scrutiny after a clip went viral showing 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appearing to look at the phone.
What happens next will depend on how the ACSU assesses Bhinder’s reply and the medical circumstances he has cited.
