IPL 2026 controversy: BCCI will examine the Romi Bhinder episode, says secretary Devajit Saikia

RR manager Romi Bhinder violates PMOA protocol (Screengrab)

It has been nearly two days since Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Binder was seen using a mobile phone in the team's dugout, which is a violation of "PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) Protocol - 2026", but the BCCI has yet to act on the serious violation. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said they will thoroughly "examine the matter" before reaching a logical conclusion. "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 tells TimesofIndia.com.

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When informed that the PMOA Code clearly states phones cannot be used in the dugout—which the official document defines as part of the PMOA area—Saikia promised a thorough and transparent examination. "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 to the conclusion," added Saikia. It can be confirmed that the matter has not yet reached the IPL Governing Council (GC) table. It now remains to be seen whether Bhinder will be permitted to sit in the dugout during RR's away game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. Making the matter even more serious is the fact that when Bhinder was using the phone, during his side's chase, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could be seen looking at the screen. The act was captured live by the TV cameras and has caused a huge uproar. IPL founding chairman Lalit Modi has urged the GC to take "immediate action". He even questioned the Anti Corruption Unit's role when Bhinder casually used his phone during the match. "Having a MOBILE PHONE IN THE DUGOUT - is a COMPLETELY A NO NO. did this really happen. I hope not. If it did. Then @IPL governing council needs to take IMMEDIATE ACTION," Modi wrote in a post. "This is COMPLETELY A NO NO. WHERE WAS ANTI CORRUPTION ," he added in a different post. As per the routine protocol, a match referee submits a detailed report at the end of the match and it remains to be seen whether the Bhinder incident finds a mention. Vengalil Narayanan Kutty was officiating the RR vs RCB fixture in Guwahati and two anti-corruption officers would have been monitoring the proceedings. In just over 24 hours, RR will be back in action, and the BCCI needs to thoroughly investigate the matter before Bhinder is permitted to be part of the PMOA again. The BCCI Anti-Corruption Code, effective from March 18 2019, also applies to the team officials. "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," explained a source tracking developments. BCCI has only a few hours to get to the bottom of the matter.

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