Romi Bhinder, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were involved in mobile row. PC - X/AFP
Rajasthan Royals (RR) were found in the middle of a gruelling controversy when their manager, Romi Bhinder, was caught using a mobile phone during Match 16 of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 10.
Bhinder was using his mobile phone while sitting in the RR dugout at Guwahati, while the 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was caught looking at the screen during the chase in the RR vs RCB fixture.
As the visuals spread online, speculation of match-fixing was raised against the inaugural champions. However, it later emerged that Bhinder had been in touch with his doctor after being hospitalised before the season, and had written a letter to the BCCI seeking permission for the same.
Romi Bhinder gets clearance from BCCI
In the aftermath of the drama, Romi Bhinder received a show-cause notice from the Indian board, but it was expected that no serious action would be taken against the Rajasthan Royals team manager. To make it official, a Cricbuzz report has confirmed that he has been cleared by the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
"Rajasthan Royals' manager Romi Bhinder has been cleared by the ACSU," the report stated. "A letter was sent to RR informing them of the decision," it added.
However, according to the Times of India's Gaurav Gupta, Bhinder has been fined INR 1 lakh, and he has been given a warning by the BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia. It is further said that the board wasn't satisfied with the RR manager's explanation.
"Manager Romi Bhinder has been fined Rs 1 lakh and been given a warning, as this is his first offence, after breaching @IPL protocols," Gupta revealed via a post on his X handle.
"He (Romi Bhinder) gave us some explanation, but we were not satisfied with it," Saikia told Gupta.
Also Read: ICC Announces New Tournament With No India Matches
No word on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Apart from Romi Bhinder, RR's budding batter, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, came under scrutiny for looking at the mobile screen while the live game was on. However, the BCCI has neither given him a clearance nor punished the 15-year-old on any ground.
Meanwhile, as per a Times of India report, the board will take no action against Sooryavanshi.
"'He is a kid, franchise can explain rules better," the report stated.
According to the BCCI, there are strict rules on the use of electronic devices during matches. These rules are part of the “Minimum Standards for Players and Match Officials Areas” (PMOA). A team manager may use a mobile phone only in the dressing room, while no player is strictly allowed anywhere near an electronic device.
How has Vaibhav Sooyanshi fared in IPL 2026?
Nevertheless, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been one of the brightest batters going in the IPL 2026. The RR opener was once sitting at the top of the run-scoring charts, but he has slipped to seventh spot after a rare failure against SRH's Praful Hinge in Hyderabad.
In five matches this season, the left-handed swashbuckler has hit 200 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 263.16, shutting down his critics who were second-guessing Sooryavanshi to be a one-season wonder.
Given his rapid growth, the BCCI might fast-track him to the Indian set-up, starting from T20Is, during the Ireland tour after IPL 2026.
Later on Friday, the IPL governing body confirmed the same.
