A Wrong Number with a Star-Studded Twist
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar recently found himself in the middle of an unusual episode involving his old mobile number, two young cricket fans from Chhattisgarh, and the local police.
According to a report from NDTV, Patidar’s former mobile number had been inactive for over 90 days, prompting his telecom provider to deactivate and reassign it. The number was purchased in late June by Manish, a teenager from the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, who activated it with a Reliance Jio SIM.
Unexpected Calls from Cricket Royalty
Soon after activation, Manish and his friend Khemraj noticed Patidar’s photograph still appearing as the WhatsApp profile picture for the number. The surprise deepened when calls started coming in from none other than Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, both trying to reach Patidar.
Initially baffled, the teens found humour in the situation. When Patidar eventually called to request his old number back — explaining it was essential for contact with coaches, teammates, and personal connections — they playfully replied that they were MS Dhoni.
A Warning and a Swift Police Visit
Patidar reportedly responded with a warning that he would send the cops. Within ten minutes, local police arrived at Manish’s residence to mediate the situation. Realising the seriousness, the teenagers handed over the SIM card without further dispute.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Memory
Reflecting on the bizarre chain of events, Khemraj told NDTV, “I got to speak to Kohli because of a wrong number. My life’s goal is complete.”
Patidar’s Recent Highs
The incident comes just months after Patidar achieved a career milestone, leading RCB to their maiden Indian Premier League title in his debut season as captain, defeating Punjab Kings in the final.
