Rajasthan Royals manager Ravindra ‘Romi’ Bhinder has been docked INR 1 lakh after the BCCI’s anti-corruption unit spotted him on his mobile in the dug-out during the 10 April fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati.
The ACU called it a straightforward breach of the 2026 PMOA rules, which read: “The team manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.” A short investigation followed. Bhinder told officials the lapse was “inadvertent” and apologised. He also mentioned he is managing Type-2 lung failure – a detail the unit noted before settling on a monetary penalty rather than anything harsher.
Images of Bhinder on the phone, with 15-year-old net bowler Vaibhav Sooryavanshi beside him, had already been circulating online by then. Once the pictures surfaced, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board would be “reviewing the video footage and gather evidence before reaching any conclusion.” That review is now complete.
Bhinder has been part of the Royals’ back-room staff since the inaugural season in 2008 and, according to franchise officials, acts as Sooryavanshi’s “local guardian” during the tournament. The Royals say there was no attempt to hide anything and have accepted the ACU’s decision without contest.
The fine does not trigger a touchline ban, so Bhinder is free to continue in his usual role. Inside the camp, the incident is seen as an isolated slip. One senior player, speaking on background, called it “a reminder that the little things still matter, even in a busy season.”
After five matches Rajasthan sit third on the table with four wins – form that, for now, keeps cricketing attention on the pitch rather than the dug-out.
