Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s mentor and RR manager caught using phone during IPL match; could face penalty by BCCI

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been making headlines for all the right reasons this IPL 2026 season, but Friday night in Guwahati brought an off-field controversy into focus. During their clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone in the dugout. It is an act that goes against the IPL’s Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocol.

The incident occurred during the 11th over of RR’s chase. Bhinder, seated in the dugout, was scrolling on his phone while Vaibhav Suryavanshi, sitting next to him, appeared to glance at the screen. The visuals quickly spread across social media. The viral video has prompted people online to question a possible breach of anti-corruption guidelines.

Bhinder is not just a team official. He also serves as a mentor and guardian figure to Suryavanshi, the 15-year-old prodigy who has taken the league by storm this season. Vaibhav’s father, Sanjiv, has officially authorised Bhinder as the teenager’s guardian during the IPL seasons. In fact, Bhinder was the first one who called Suryavanshi when he was bought by the franchise for INR 1.10 crore at the IPL 2025 auction just as a 13-year-old.

PMOA protocol breach leaves RR manager under scanner

The IPL’s PMOA rules are quite clear when it comes to electronic devices. While certain officials, including the team manager, are permitted to carry phones, their usage is tightly restricted.

As per the 2026 protocol: The team manager may use a phone in the dressing room area but not in the dugout.

The dugout falls under the restricted PMOA zone, which also includes dressing rooms, match referee areas and designated viewing zones. These spaces are monitored closely by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), with strict controls in place to prevent any unauthorised communication.

“Managers and media managers carry the phone but the rules regarding its use are very clear. Using it in the dugout is a serious lapse because Romi was sitting next to players who looked at his screen when he was scrolling. There is no grey area here and now it’s up to the officials to investigate the matter,” said an IPL official while speaking to TOI.

Given the visibility of the dugout and the fact that players could potentially access information from such devices, the breach is considered serious in regulatory terms.

The matter is now expected to be reviewed by the match referee and the ACSU. While the rulebook does not publicly outline fixed penalties for this specific offence, disciplinary action is almost certain if the breach is confirmed.

Possible outcomes could range from a financial fine to stricter sanctions, including restrictions on match-day involvement. The IPL Governing Council will take the final call based on reports submitted by officials.