Young fan Manish shared that he got to speak with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers after acquiring Rajat Patidar’s old SIM card. The former number of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter had been reassigned, and according to NDTV, both Kohli and de Villiers called the number, thinking they were contacting Patidar.
Manish and his friend Khemraj were stunned by their unexpected fortune. Khemraj recounted that Kohli asked them why they were using Patidar’s number, while de Villiers spoke in English—making it difficult for them to fully understand the conversation.
“I never imagined I would speak to Virat Kohli one day, and that too from our village. When AB de Villiers called, he spoke in English. We couldn’t understand a word, but we were so thrilled. When Manish used to get calls, he would hand over the phone to me.”
“The callers who identified themselves as Virat Kohli and Yash Dayal asked us why we were using Patidar’s number. We explained to them we had bought a new SIM and this is our number,” Khemraj was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
Manish’s brother Deshbandhu said the villagers were overjoyed when the boys spoke to Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, something many only dream of. The SIM was later returned to Patidar with the family’s consent, and police confirmed there was no legal issue as it followed standard telecom procedures.
Rajat Patidar’s Most Recent Appearance Came In IPL 2025
Rajat Patidar sustained a finger injury during the IPL 2025 season, sidelining him from competitive cricket since the tournament. Recently appointed as vice-captain of the Central Zone for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025, set to commence on August 28, his participation will depend on his fitness.
In his first-class career, Patidar has featured in 68 matches, amassing 4,738 runs at an average of 43.07, including 13 centuries. During IPL 2025, he registered 312 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 143.77. Notably, he also became the first captain to guide his franchise to an IPL title, ending an 18-year drought by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final.
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