IPL 2026: RR manager fined Rs 1 lakh for dugout phone use, cleared of serious wrongdoing

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) team manager Romi Bhinder has been fined Rs 1 lakh by the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) after he was caught using a mobile phone in the team’s dugout. Bhinder has been cleared of any wrongdoing with the ACSU treating it as a first-time offence and has also been issued a warning.

Bhinder was issued a show-cause notice, following which the ASCU began its inquiry and found that the RR manager was found to breach the anti-corruption protocols by using the mobile phone in the dugout. However, there was no evidence of any malice involved.

Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone while sitting in the RR dugout during the second innings of the match, and the clip instantly went viral on social media, prompting swift action from the BCCI.

Bhinder has been the Rajasthan Royals manager since 2008, and the issue was dealt with leniency given his long experience, first-time offence, and the situation of medical emergency, according to Cricbuzz.

He has a history of serious lung issues, which he is understood to have communicated to the BCCI in advance. Meanwhile, RR batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was seen sitting beside Bhinder while he was using the phone, has not been dragged into the matter.

Rajasthan ranked third on points table

Meanwhile, Rajasthan are ranked third on the points table with four wins from five matches, having eight points to their name. They suffered their first loss of the season in the previous fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after failing to chase down the target of 217.  

RR were bundled out for 159 after four-wicket hauls from Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge.