In a bizarre twist of fate, a 21-year-old from Madagaon village in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district unexpectedly found himself in direct contact with cricket superstars, including Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, all thanks to a reissued SIM card.

How a SIM Card Led to Cricket Royalty

Manish Bisi purchased a new SIM card in late June from a Devbhog mobile shop, unaware it once belonged to Rajat Patidar, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and a key player for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket.

Since the number had been inactive for about six months, the telecom company reassigned it to Manish as per standard policy. When his WhatsApp account activated, Patidar’s photo appeared as the profile picture — something Manish and his friend Khemraj initially thought was a glitch.

Calls From Kohli, De Villiers & More

Within days, Manish began receiving calls from people introducing themselves as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and other cricketers, all addressing him as “Rajat.” Thinking it was a prank, Manish and Khemraj chatted with the callers for nearly two weeks before realising the truth.

The situation escalated when Patidar, unable to access his old number, contacted the Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell, which alerted Gariaband police. Officers visited Madagaon, retrieved the SIM, and returned it to Patidar.

A Memory for a Lifetime

Though short-lived, the incident left both Manish and Khemraj thrilled at the unexpected brush with cricketing legends. “It’s unforgettable,” they said, hoping to meet Rajat Patidar in person someday.

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