IPL 2026: Will Romi Bhinder be allowed in RR dugout for SRH clash today?
Rajasthan Royals face a dugout controversy as team manager Romi Bhinder's mobile phone usage during a match is under BCCI review. The "PMOA Protocol - 2026" reportedly restricts such use. Officials are examining footage before deciding if Bhinder can be in the dugout for their next game, sparking debate on protocol adherence.
Rajasthan Royals find themselves at the centre of an off-field controversy ahead of their IPL clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the focus shifting to whether team manager Romi Bhinder will be allowed inside the dugout today. The issue stems from the previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati, where Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone inside the team’s dugout. This is understood to be a breach of the “PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) Protocol - 2026”, which restricts mobile phone usage in designated team and match official zones.
However, the matter is still under review by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board will not rush to judgment and will first carry out a detailed examination of all available material. “Certain individuals are allowed to carry phones in the dugout and Romi Bhinder, as a manager, can carry it.
But we need to thoroughly examine where exactly the event happened and whether the phone was used. We will conduct an internal examination before reaching a logical conclusion,” Saikia told TimesofIndia. com.
He further added, “As I said, we will examine it. We can't act on what is being said. We will see the pictures, video and whatever we can get before reaching to the conclusion.