When a 21-year-old got calls from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers

Dubai: What happens when a phone number once owned by a celebrity ends up in the hands of a common man? In Chhattisgarh, this unlikely scenario turned into a whirlwind of unexpected calls and viral confusion.

Manish Bisi, a 21-year-old from Madagaon village in Gariaband district, purchased a new SIM card from a local mobile store in June. While setting up his phone with the help of a friend, they noticed something strange — the WhatsApp display picture automatically showed Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar.

“At first, we thought it was just a glitch,” Manish told The Times of India.

But what followed left him stunned. Within days, Manish began receiving calls from some of the biggest names in world cricket, including Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Yash Dayal. Confused but excited, Manish and his friends engaged in casual chats with the callers, unaware of the full gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Patidar realised something was off with his WhatsApp and reported the issue to the cyber cell. Upon investigation, it became clear that his old number had been reassigned to Manish, as per standard telecom policy.

Gariaband Superintendent of Police, Nikhil Rakhecha, confirmed, “Numbers that remain inactive for over six months are reallocated to new customers. The number has now been returned to Rajat Patidar.”