Unexpected Phone Calls: A Farmer's Son Receives Cricket Legends' Calls
An Unusual Incident in Chhattisgarh
In Gariyaband, Chhattisgarh, an extraordinary event has unfolded. A simple farmer's son from the Madgaon area of the Devbhog police station inadvertently received the old mobile number of Indian cricketer Rajat Patidar. What followed was nothing short of a cinematic tale, as the young man began receiving calls from cricket stars like Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, and South African legend AB de Villiers.
How the Cricket Number Was Acquired
Manish BC, a 21-year-old son of local farmer Gajendra BC, purchased a SIM card from a mobile center in Devbhog on June 28. The mobile operator, Shishupal, assigned him a number as per the standard procedure. A few days later, when Manish installed WhatsApp, he noticed a profile picture of Rajat Patidar, initially thinking it was just a default image.
Calls from Star Players Begin
Two days later, unknown callers started reaching out to him, claiming to be Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, and AB de Villiers. Manish, a cricket enthusiast, suspected that his friends from the village were playing a prank on him. Whenever the calls came in, he enjoyed the banter, but the callers consistently referred to him as Rajat Patidar.
Rajat Patidar's Request
This unusual situation continued for about 15 days until Rajat Patidar himself called Manish, asking him to return the SIM card. Initially, the young man thought it was another joke, but when Patidar mentioned that he had filed a complaint at the police station, the situation escalated. Soon after, police arrived in the village to address the matter, and Manish was informed about the seriousness of the situation, leading him to return the SIM.
Police Explanation
Faizul Shah Hoda, the Devbhog police station chief, explained that Rajat Patidar's number had been inactive for 90 days, which led to it being reassigned according to telecom regulations. The Madhya Pradesh Cyber Cell contacted Manish's father to request the return of the SIM, to which he agreed.
A Memorable Experience
Manish and 22-year-old Khemraj, who runs a grocery store in the village, expressed that this incident would remain etched in their memories forever. They described it as a lottery win, having had the chance to speak with their cricket idols. They mentioned their admiration for Virat Kohli and how a simple mistake allowed them to connect with him directly. Although they could have kept the SIM, they returned it at the request of the players and police.
Hope for Future Contact
Both young men expressed hope that Rajat Patidar would eventually reach out to them personally as a gesture of gratitude for their cooperation. This incident has become a hot topic of discussion throughout the village, and the police have not taken any action against the young man.