According to the notice, Bhinder and the franchise have been asked to respond within 48 hours. | Photo Credit: JioHotstar/Screengrab

On expected lines, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has issued a show-cause notice to Romi Bhinder, team manager of Rajasthan Royals, for using a mobile handset during the side’s Indian Premier League fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati last week.

According to the notice, Bhinder and the franchise have been asked to respond within 48 hours.

The charge pertains to the use of a mobile phone in the dugout. As per tournament guidelines, players and team officials are barred from using mobile phones in Players and Match Officials Areas (PMOA) to prevent any potentially corrupt transfer of information. Teams are, however, permitted to use walkie-talkies for communication between the dressing room and the dugout in specific situations.

While PMOA protocols allow a team manager to use a mobile phone inside the dressing room, its use in the dugout is prohibited.

Sources indicated that Bhinder had sought prior permission from the ACSU before the tournament to use a mobile phone due to a medical condition that had led to his hospitalisation for three weeks ahead of the IPL. However, BCCI officials clarified that mobile phones cannot be used to make or receive calls in the dugout, which is accessible to the squad and coaching staff during matches.

On Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the “veracity of the incident” would be established before any conclusions are drawn.

“Managers using a mobile phone is permissible, but we need to find out whether there was any violation of rules. That fact-finding exercise is now on. Once it is complete, we will take necessary steps depending on the outcome,” Saikia told Sportstar.

Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACSU to take cognisance.

Rajasthan Royals will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Monday.

Published on Apr 13, 2026