Kamal Ghorui
Lucknow Super Giants found themselves in focus for off-field reasons during their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, after a brief visual on broadcast sparked discussion over possible protocol breach.The moment came in the first over of the match, just after Josh Inglis hit a boundary off Akeal Hossein on the fifth ball. During the replay shown on television, a person was seen using a mobile phone, which viewers claimed was in the LSG dugout area. This led to immediate reactions on social media.The IPL’s Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules clearly restrict the use of mobile phones and electronic devices in specific zones, including dressing rooms, dugouts, match viewing areas, umpire rooms, match referee’s room, and dining spaces. Only the official team analyst is allowed to use devices in a designated area.As the clip circulated online, questions were raised about whether the rules had been breached. However, the situation did not progress further as it emerged that the individual seen on camera was perhaps not part of the LSG dugout. The exact location of the person, though, could not be independently verified by TimesofIndia.com.The IPL PMOA guidelines state: “Mobile phones and other electronic communication devices are not allowed to be used in the PMOA.” The rules apply across all key operational zones during a match, including areas linked to players, officials, and support staff under BCCI supervision.A similar case had been reported earlier in the season when Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using a mobile phone during a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati. The matter came under scrutiny after images of Bhinder with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appeared on social media during the game.
