A Surprising Call from Cricket Stars

Imagine sitting in a small village grocery shop when your phone rings, and the voice on the other end claims to be Virat Kohli. This unusual scenario unfolded in Madagaon, a village in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district, when two friends, Manish BC and Khemraj, found themselves unexpectedly connected to cricket stars.

The Beginning of the Cricket Connection

On June 28, Manish purchased a new Reliance Jio SIM card from a local mobile shop. Everything seemed normal until WhatsApp loaded with Rajat Patidar’s photo as the profile picture. Initially dismissing it as a prank, the friends were soon receiving calls from individuals claiming to be cricket legends like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

A Humorous Response to Unusual Calls

Taking the situation lightly, Manish and Khemraj began answering calls by introducing themselves as “Mahendra Singh Dhoni.” However, on July 15, a call from an unknown number turned serious when the caller identified himself as Rajat Patidar and requested the return of his number. The friends continued their playful banter until Patidar warned them of police involvement.

The Realization and Resolution

Within minutes, police arrived at their door, confirming that they had indeed been speaking to the real Rajat Patidar. Understanding the gravity of the situation, they promptly returned the SIM card. For Khemraj, a devoted Virat Kohli fan, this unexpected encounter was a dream come true.

The Mystery of Recycled Numbers

This incident highlights how telecom companies recycle inactive numbers after 90 days. Patidar’s old number had been reassigned to Manish, inadvertently turning their village shop into a cricketing hotline. The villagers now humorously refer to Madagaon as being “on the cricket map,” hoping for another call from Patidar, this time just to say thank you.