Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Romi Bhinder (X Photo) NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has strongly reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on anti-corruption protocols and fined Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder Rs 1 lakh for a match-day violation during an Indian Premier League match.The incident occurred during the Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on 10 April, where Bhinder was found using a mobile phone inside the team’s football boot – a clear breach of IPL Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocols.
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What Ryan Cook said after LSG tasted yet another defeat IPL 2026: GT vs KKR Live ScoreACU considers response ‘unsatisfactory’BCCI’s anti-corruption unit (ACU), headed by Sharad Kumar, issued a show-cause notice demanding an explanation from Bhinder. However, after reviewing his response, the board found it unsatisfactory.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Bhinder was found guilty of breaching protocol.“A team led by Sharad Kumar examined Bhinder’s reply and found him guilty. His reply was not satisfactory,” Saikia said. “Since this is a first offence, a fine of Rs 1,000 has been imposed along with a warning.Bhinder has since acknowledged the wrongdoing and issued an unconditional apology, according to the IPL’s media advisory.Strict rules, no exceptionsThe IPL PMOA guidelines strictly prohibit the use of mobile phones and other communication devices in sensitive areas such as the dugout and only allow their use in designated dressing room areas.According to the rules, all players and support staff must turn off and deposit their devices with the Team Security Liaison Officer upon arrival at the venue. Only limited personnel, such as analysts at designated stations, are allowed to use approved devices.The breach gained attention after visuals showed Bhinder scrolling on his smartphone in the underground floor with young player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sitting nearby.Sources said Bhinder was dealing with health issues, which may have contributed to the lapse, although the BCCI maintained that the protocol breach could not be overlooked.“Using the phone in the underground floor is a strict no-no. Given his experience, he would have been aware of the rules. It could have been unintentional but the board handled it appropriately,” a source told PTI.
