Lucknow Super Giants found themselves in the limelight for off-field reasons during their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, after a brief image on air sparked debate over a possible breach of protocol.That moment came in the first over of the match, just after Josh Inglis hit Akeal Hossein’s boundary on the fifth ball. During the television footage, a person was seen using a mobile phone, which viewers claimed was in the LSG dugout area. This led to immediate reactions on social media.The IPL Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules clearly restrict the use of mobile phones and electronic devices in specific zones, including dressing rooms, dugouts, match viewing areas, umpires’ rooms, umpires’ rooms and canteens. Only the official team analyst is allowed to use the equipment in the designated area.As the clip circulated online, questions were raised about whether the rules had been broken. However, the situation did not progress further as it emerged that the individual seen on camera may not have been part of the LSG dig. However, TimesofIndia.com could not independently verify the exact location of the person.The IPL PMOA guidelines state: “Cell phones and other electronic communication devices are not permitted to be used in the PMOA.” The rules apply in all key operational zones during a match, including areas associated with players, officials and support staff under the supervision of the BCCI.A similar case was reported earlier in the season when Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone during a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. The matter came under scrutiny after pictures of Bhinder with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi surfaced on social media during the game.
