Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar recently became the centre of a bizarre telecom mix-up that left two teenagers from Chhattisgarh in direct contact with cricket superstars like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
According to an NDTV report, the confusion began when Patidar's old mobile number - inactive for over 90 days - was deactivated by his telecom provider and reassigned to a new customer. The number was purchased in late June by a teenager named Manish from Gariaband district, who activated it with a Reliance Jio SIM card.
Soon after activation, Manish and his friend Khemraj noticed that the WhatsApp profile photo displayed Rajat Patidar's picture from the number's previous ownership. Before they could think much of it, calls started pouring in — not from ordinary people, but from cricket legends like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, trying to reach Patidar.
Initially amused, the duo had no idea about the significance of their new number. But the matter took a serious turn when Patidar himself called Manish, requesting the return of his old number, which he said was crucial for staying in touch with his coaches, teammates, and personal contacts.
Unconvinced, the boys jokingly replied, "And we're MS Dhoni," dismissing the call as a prank. Patidar reportedly warned them, "Okay, I'll send the cops." Within minutes, local police arrived at Manish's residence to sort out the matter.
Realising the seriousness, the teenagers immediately handed over the SIM card to Patidar. Reflecting on the bizarre incident, Khemraj said, "I got to speak to Kohli because of a wrong number. My life's goal is complete."
Rajat Patidar is currently enjoying a career-high, having led RCB to their maiden IPL title earlier this year in his debut season as captain. The team lifted the trophy after defeating Punjab Kings in the final.
