RR manager Romi Bhinder served show-cause notice by BCCI over dugout phone row

The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has issued a show-cause notice to Rajasthan Royals (RR) team manager Romi Bhinder over his use of a mobile phone during the side’s IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, seeking a response within 48 hours.

“After the ACSU launched an investigation into the matter, a show-cause notice has been served to Bhinder. He has been asked to reply within 48 hours and explain the reasons behind him taking the mobile to that area,” sources in the BCCI told IANS on Monday.

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The incident occurred during the second innings of RR’s match against RCB at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, when TV cameras captured Bhinder using a mobile phone while seated in the dugout. The visuals, which quickly went viral on social media, also showed teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi glancing at the screen.

Also Read: Rajasthan Royals manager’s dugout phone use linked to past lung collapse: Report

As per the IPL’s Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) guidelines, team managers are permitted to use mobile phones in the dressing room but not in the dugout, making the incident a potential breach of the league’s anti-corruption protocols.

Bhinder, who also serves as Sooryavanshi’s local guardian during the tournament, was recently hospitalised for nearly a month in Nagpur after suffering a lung collapse in the lead-up to the IPL.

A long-serving member of the franchise since its inception in 2008, Bhinder was also associated with the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant during RR’s suspension period.

With the investigation underway, other franchises are closely monitoring the situation. “As per the rules, usage of a mobile is not permitted in that area, irrespective of the explanation he gives. This massive breach of rules is a very open-and-shut case, and it will be interesting to see how the BCCI penalises him,” an IPL insider said.