BCCI Imposes One-Lakh Fine on Rajasthan Royals Manager for Dugout Phone Use in IPL 2026 Match The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has imposed a fine of one lakh rupees on Rajasthan Royals (RR) manager Ravindra Bhinder for using a mobile phone in the dugout during an IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on April 10. The incident occurred during the 26th match of the tournament, which took place in Guwahati. Bhinder was caught using his phone in the dugout, a violation of the IPL’s protocols, which prohibit such activity during matches. According to ESPNcricinfo, the ACU’s investigation revealed that Bhinder was seen using his mobile phone in the dugout while RCB was batting. The incident came to light after social media posts surfaced showing Bhinder using his phone during the match, with RCB player Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated beside him. Further scrutiny revealed that Bhinder, who has been with RR since 2008, is also the “local guardian” of the 15-year-old Suryavanshi. Bhinder acknowledged his mistake in a response to the ACU, stating that the incident occurred unintentionally. He also reportedly apologized for the breach. The ACU accepted his explanation but proceeded with the financial penalty, citing the violation of the IPL’s Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) Protocol 2026. The protocol explicitly prohibits team managers from using mobile phones in the dugout, allowing such usage only in the dressing room. The BCCI’s secretary, Devajit Sakya, confirmed that the board will review video footage and gather evidence before reaching a final conclusion. However, the fine was imposed based on the initial findings.#bcci #rajasthan_royals #royal_challengers_bangalore #vaibhav_suryavanshi #ravindra_bhinder
