Phone in the Dugout Sparks Storm as Rajasthan Royals Land in IPL 2026 Controversy

The Rajasthan Royals have found themselves at the centre of a major controversy following their game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League 2026 on Friday.

While Rajasthan Royals had dominated headlines this season for their batting prowess, the focus has now shifted from on-field performance to an alleged breach of protocol.

The franchise’s team manager, Romi Bhinder, was seen using his phone while seated in the dugout, an act strictly prohibited under the anti-corruption rules laid down by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

A video clip that has gone viral on social media shows Bhinder appearing to type on his phone, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi standing beside him. The incident is believed to have occurred during Rajasthan Royals’ chase of 202, shortly after Vaibhav’s dismissal.

Bhinder was found to have breached the Players and Match Officials Area protocol by using his phone in the dugout. No official clarification has been issued by the franchise so far.

Why Did Lalit Modi Slam Anti-Corruption Officials Over the IPL 2026 Dugout Controversy?

The development drew sharp attention from former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, who questioned the role of anti-corruption officials.

"This is COMPLETELY A NO NO. WHERE WAS ANTI CORRUPTION," Modi wrote while sharing the video.

The "PMOA PROTOCOL - 2026" published on the IPL’s official website states that while a team manager is allowed to carry a phone in the dugout, its usage is strictly barred.

The protocol says : "Mobile Phones and other electronic communications equipment are not allowed to be used in the PMOA other than for a few members of the team."

It further specifies that the Team Manager may use a phone in the Dressing Room area but NOT in the Dugout.

The rules also mandate that all players and support staff must switch off their mobile phones and smartwatches upon arrival at the stadium and hand them over to the Team Security Liaison Officer for storage.

Only the team analyst is permitted to use a computer at the designated analyst table for data-related purposes.

If the video circulating on social media is deemed sufficient evidence, Bhinder could be summoned by the match referee and the anti-corruption unit for further action.

Cricket fans across social media have sparked a fierce debate over Rajasthan Royals’ “phone-in-the-dugout” controversy, questioning how such a lapse went unchecked by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and IPL authorities.

"Match fixing going on?", wrote one user on X.

"BCCI: No phones allowed.

RR: It’s not a phone, it’s a high tech calculator for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strike rate," a second user quipped.

"That guy to Vaibhav - run banayega toh candycrush khelne dunga," a third user commented.