In a story straight out of a cricket fan’s wildest dreams, a young man from Chhattisgarh had his new SIM card turn into a gateway to Indian cricket’s elite stars. Manish BC, from the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, purchased a Reliance Jio SIM card at a local shop in late June 2025. What he did not know was that the mobile number he was given was previously owned by none other than Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain who led his team to its first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title recently.
The twist began when Manish activated the SIM and saw Patidar’s photo pop up as the WhatsApp profile picture for his new number. Soon after, he and his friend Khemraj started receiving unexpected calls—calls from cricket legends Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers trying to reach Patidar.
Confused but amused, Manish and Khemraj initially assumed these were prank calls. When Patidar himself called to request the return of his old number, the boys jokingly replied, “And we’re MS Dhoni!” Not convinced, Patidar warned them he would involve the police. Within ten minutes, local police arrived at Manish’s house, making it clear that the issue was no joke.
The number had been deactivated and recycled by the telecom provider after being inactive for over 90 days, a standard practice. Patidar’s old number landed with Manish by chance, sparking this unusual chain of events. Recognizing the seriousness, the boys returned the SIM card to Patidar.
For Khemraj, the cricket fan, the episode was unforgettable. “I got to speak to Kohli because of a wrong number. My life’s goal is complete,” he said with a big smile.
This surprising mix-up turned a quiet village shop in Chhattisgarh into a hot spot on the cricket map, reminding us all of the close-knit connections cricket inspires across India.
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This extraordinary story highlights how even a simple SIM card purchase can link the everyday lives of fans to the stars they admire, creating moments to cherish forever.
