An Indian cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper, Rajat Patidar, was entangled in an unforeseen incident involving his former mobile number, two cricket fans from Chhattisgarh, and the local police. A routine telecom issue unexpectedly turned into a humorous and slightly disorganized event.
Patidar’s old mobile number, which had been inactive for more than 90 days, was reallocated by the service provider, in compliance with telecom regulations. A young man, Manish, residing in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, became the new subscriber after activating the number with a Reliance Jio SIM at the end of June.
Minutes after activation, Manish and his friend Khemraj were astonished to see Rajat Patidar’s WhatsApp profile picture. They were initially amused, but their surprise grew when calls started coming in from renowned cricketers like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Unaware of the situation’s importance, the two friends initially dismissed it as a practical joke or an unlikely coincidence.
The situation took a turn when Patidar personally contacted the number, requesting the return of the SIM. He explained that the number was crucial for staying in touch with coaches, teammates, and individual contacts. However, Manish and Khemraj were doubtful of his identity, replying with a humorous, “And we’re MS Dhoni!”, believing it was a prank.
As a result of Patidar’s frustration, he warned the pair that he would alert the authorities. Within ten minutes, local police officers arrived at Manish’s residence, confirming the gravity of the matter. Once the situation was understood, the young men fully cooperated, handing over the SIM card to Patidar through the correct channels.
Despite the unexpected circumstances, Khemraj found a positive outcome, saying, “I got to speak to Kohli because of a wrong number. My life’s goal is complete.”