From Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers — how two friends in Madagaon accidentally became the link to India’s cricket stars.
Unexpected Call from Virat Kohli
Imagine sitting at a small grocery shop in your village when the phone rings. A voice says, “Hello, I’m Virat Kohli.” Moments later, another call comes in — this time from AB de Villiers.
For Manish BC and his friend Khemraj, residents of Madagaon in Devbhog, Chhattisgarh, this wasn’t a prank. It was the start of a bizarre cricket connection.
How a New SIM Started the Confusion
- On June 28, Manish purchased a new Reliance Jio SIM.
- When he opened WhatsApp, the profile picture showed Indian cricketer Rajat Patidar.
- Soon, calls started pouring in from cricket players and their associates.
At first, the friends thought it was a joke and introduced themselves as “MS Dhoni” whenever someone called.
The Real Rajat Patidar Steps In
On July 15, Manish received yet another call. The caller politely said, “Bhai, I’m Rajat Patidar. That number is mine, please return it.”
Thinking it was still a prank, they replied, “And we’re MS Dhoni.”
But Patidar explained the number’s importance and warned that he would involve the police. Within 10 minutes, officers arrived — and the friends realised it was indeed the real Rajat Patidar.
The SIM was returned immediately.
A Cricket Fan’s Dream Moment
For Khemraj, a lifelong Virat Kohli fan, the calls were unforgettable.
“I got to speak to Kohli because of a wrong number. My life’s goal is complete,” he said.
Why It Happened
Telecom companies recycle numbers that are inactive for over 90 days. Patidar’s old number was reassigned to Manish, unknowingly turning a small shop in Chhattisgarh into a cricket hotline.
Now, villagers joke that Madagaon is “on the cricket map”. Manish and Khemraj hope the next call from Rajat Patidar will be to say thank you — not to get his SIM back.
