Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder has been fined Rs 1 lakh by the BCCI for using a mobile phone in the dugout during the IPL 2026 fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati on April 10. Additionally, the board handed him a formal warning under the Prevention of Matchfixing, Anti-Corruption and Security (PMOA) protocol.
Officials treated the case as a first time offence, so no further action will follow. Bhinder has served the Royals since their 2008 debut season. However, he breached rules that permit phone use only inside the dressing room.
How the Romi Bhinder Dugout Incident Unfolded
Photographs that circulated after the match showed Bhinder using his mobile phone inside the dugout area. Consequently, the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) took swift notice of the incident. On April 12, the ACU issued a formal notice under Article 4.1.1 of the PMOA protocols.
The notice gave him 48 hours to respond, and Bhinder replied within the stipulated time. However, the board found his explanation unsatisfactory and moved ahead with disciplinary action under the first time offence clause.
BCCI Explains the Penalty Against the RR Manager
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia outlined the reasoning behind the decision. According to him, the ACU reviewed photographs of the breach before serving the notice. Furthermore, Saikia confirmed that the manager’s written reply failed to convince the board.
As a result, the BCCI imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on Romi Bhinder under clause 7.42(a) of the rulebook. Meanwhile, Bhinder also received a stern warning to follow the protocols strictly in future matches. The decision reinforces the BCCI’s wider push to protect match integrity across the league.
Items Banned Inside the IPL Dugout
The PMOA protocol maintains a detailed list of items that team officials cannot carry into the dugout. Notably, the rules target any object that could enable outside communication or compromise match fairness.
Banned items inside the IPL dugout include:
- Mobile phones and personal electronic devices
- Smart watches and other communication wearables
- Laptops and tablets, with exemptions only for team analysts
- Non-approved support staff
- Unauthorised recording gear such as cameras, microphones, and scanners
- Alcohol and tobacco products
- Non-approved team communication equipment, with walkie-talkies allowed for player support staff
- Betting materials and gambling related items
- Unauthorised team apparel and commercial merchandise
- Weapons and hazardous objects
