Cricket
Rajasthan Royals youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came under scrutiny after being seen near a mobile phone in the dugout during an IPL 2026 match, triggering concerns over a possible anti-corruption breach involving team manager Romi Bhinder
As per Board of Control for Cricket in India guidelines, mobile phones are strictly not allowed in the dugout during live matches, as they pose a serious risk of illegal communication linked to betting or match-fixing
The BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) investigated the incident and found no evidence of wrongdoing from Sooryavanshi, concluding that the youngster had no involvement in any suspicious activity
Officials believed Sooryavanshi was unaware of the seriousness of the rule and treated the incident as a learning moment, deciding that proper guidance from the franchise was enough instead of strict punishment
Instead of a ban or harsh penalty, the board issued only a warning and minor fine, making it clear that young players should be educated better rather than intimidated in such situations
Despite the off-field noise, the 15-year-old has been sensational in IPL 2026, scoring 200 runs in five matches at a jaw-dropping strike rate, including explosive half-centuries against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.