BCCI Signals Stronger Action Against IPL Teams After Rajasthan Royals Conduct Breaches

The BCCI has put IPL franchises on notice. Board secretary Devajit Saikia made it clear Saturday that the governing body is exploring fresh options to crack down on teams that break conduct rules during IPL 2026. The warning comes straight after Rajasthan Royals landed in hot water twice this season. Fans watching the high-stakes T20 action expect discipline, and the board wants to protect the league’s reputation.

Saikia spoke on the sidelines of India’s squad announcement for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Mumbai. He didn’t name Rajasthan Royals directly, but the message hit hard. “We are exploring some other options about how to bring the teams which are violating the norms,” he said. “It is not just players or officials. As a team they have to maintain some decorum so that the image of the IPL is never adversely affected. We will be taking some action.”

Rajasthan Royals found themselves under the microscope twice in quick succession. First came the dugout phone drama. Team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder, also known as Romi Bhinder, was spotted using his mobile phone near the team area during the Royals’ clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The BCCI’s anti-corruption unit stepped in fast. Officials hit Bhinder with a ₹1 lakh fine for breaching strict PMOA protocols that ban phones in those zones. Bhinder owned up, called it inadvertent, and apologized. The unit accepted his explanation but issued a clear warning for the future.

Then the dressing-room vaping episode exploded into view. During Rajasthan Royals’ match against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh’s Mullanpur on April 28, cameras caught captain Riyan Parag using a vape inside the dressing room. The 24-year-old skipper received a 25 percent match-fee deduction plus one demerit point for a Level 1 breach. The incident sparked instant debate across social media and fan groups. Parag, the young leader expected to set the tone, now carries that extra scrutiny into every remaining game.

The BCCI has already handed out the individual penalties. But Saikia made it plain the board is looking beyond single fines. “We will be taking some action,” he repeated. Sources close to the board say officials are reviewing IPL terms and conditions to figure out how to hold entire franchises accountable. The goal stays simple: keep the league’s image spotless in front of millions of global viewers.

No update has emerged yet from Punjab Police on possible legal angles around the vaping incident. Saikia confirmed the BCCI has received no official communication from local authorities. Still, the back-to-back issues with one franchise have forced the board to act. Insiders say the message to every IPL team is loud: the spotlight never switches off, and the rules apply to everyone in the setup.

You could feel the tension ripple through the cricket world the moment those visuals surfaced. IPL nights already crackle with energy under the lights. Now franchises know one slip-up can drag the whole squad into the conversation. Rajasthan Royals keep battling on the field, but off it the BCCI wants tighter control. The coming weeks will show exactly what “some action” looks like. For now, every dugout, every dressing room, sits under sharper watch.