New Delhi, April 12 (NationPress) The architect of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Lalit Modi, emphasized the necessity of maintaining the sanctity of the sport in light of a recent incident involving Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder, who was seen using a mobile phone in the dugout during the IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Guwahati.

Modi cautioned that the IPL has strayed from its originally rigorous anti-corruption policies and is calling for a re-establishment of stricter oversight, enhanced enforcement, and a credibility-driven system.

"The integrity of the sport is paramount: From the inception of IPL, we established one inviolable principle—game integrity. In 2008, we did not merely start a league; we developed a controlled environment. Anti-corruption measures, limited access, monitored communications, and strict operational discipline surrounding players, umpires, and match officials were integral to the system from the beginning. The goal was straightforward: eliminate opportunity, rather than merely punish wrongdoing," Lalit Modi stated on X.

The episode, which was broadcast live from the ACA Stadium, showed Bhinder utilizing a device while sitting adjacent to young left-handed opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was focused on the screen. This footage has since circulated widely, prompting scrutiny regarding the violation of the league's stringent anti-corruption measures.

According to the IPL's Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA) guidelines, a Team Manager is permitted to use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout. Saikia confirmed to IANS on Sunday that the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is currently investigating the specifics of this incident.

"Over time, that vigilance has waned. The frameworks still exist on paper—the Anti-Corruption Unit, the codes, the protocols—but the rigor of enforcement, the clarity of control, and the discipline of execution are not what they once were. What was once a tightly run system has gradually become more fragmented and reactive. The events of 2013 served as a wake-up call for all. Reforms ensued. Governance evolved. But at some point, the balance tilted from control to mere compliance—and those are not synonymous. The most successful global sporting frameworks operate on one principle: integrity is embedded in the system, not managed ex post facto," he further elaborated.

As per the tournament regulations, two BCCI Anti-Corruption Managers, appointed by the Head of the BCCI Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), oversee the management of the PMOA. Their role is to ensure that adequate arrangements are established and that security staff are thoroughly briefed.

With RR preparing to face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, it remains uncertain whether Bhinder will be present in the PMOA area. Bhinder has been a vital part of RR's support staff since 2008 and also acts as Sooryavanshi's ‘local guardian’ during the IPL.