Rajasthan Royals may have dominated the IPL 2026 conversation with their batting, but Friday night’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati brought an entirely different kind of spotlight. This time, the talking point was not a big hit or a wicket, but a dugout moment involving RR’s Romi Bhinder.
Cameras caught Bhinder using a mobile phone during the 11th over of Rajasthan’s chase, with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seated right beside him. Sooryavanshi was even seen looking at the screen, and the short clip quickly went viral after his dismissal, prompting fans to question whether the dugout had crossed a line under IPL’s match-day protocols.
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The IPL’s Players and Match Officials Area rules are strict regarding mobile use. While the team manager may use a phone inside the dressing room, the dugout is off limits. The rulebook is clear: phones are not meant to be used in the dugout during live play. For players and support staff, the restrictions are even tighter, with devices required to be switched off and handed over on arrival.
MOBILE PHONE IN RR DUGOUT !🤯
– Even though mobile phones are not allowed during matches in the Indian Premier League, Rajasthan Royals were seen breaking the rule and using a mobile phone during the match.pic.twitter.com/f1xzva1smX
— Venukumar (@venukumar4) April 11, 2026
That makes Bhinder’s actions a potential breach, especially because the incident was visible during live broadcast and appeared to take place in a restricted area. The matter is now likely to come under the scanner of the match referee and the ICC-linked Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.
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Although the rulebook does not spell out a fixed punishment for this kind of lapse, possible consequences could include a fine or even a ban from match-day duties, depending on the review.
Had the phone been used inside the dressing room, it may never have become an issue. In the dugout, under the cameras and during the middle of an IPL chase, it has become a story that RR would rather not have made headlines for.
