In a bizarre turn of events, cricketer Rajat Patidar was recently compelled to involve the police after an incident involving a teenager who inadvertently acquired his old SIM card. Simultaneously, reports have emerged detailing a period of strained relations between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers following a premature disclosure of personal information.
The incident involving Rajat Patidar began when a teenager named Manish, residing in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh, purchased a new Reliance Jio SIM card. Upon activating the SIM, Manish and his friend Khemraj were surprised to discover that Patidar's photograph was displayed as the WhatsApp profile picture, indicating the number's previous ownership.
Initially, the teenagers assumed it was a prank when calls started coming in from individuals claiming to be Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Amused, they responded to Patidar's attempts to explain the situation with playful banter, even claiming to be MS Dhoni. Patidar, however, patiently clarified that the number was crucial for his communication with coaches, friends, and others in the cricketing community.
When the teenagers continued to treat the matter as a joke, Patidar was left with no option but to warn them that he would have to call the police. Within ten minutes, law enforcement officials arrived at their doorstep, at which point the gravity of the situation dawned on Manish and Khemraj. Realizing they had been speaking to the actual Rajat Patidar, they promptly returned the SIM card. For Khemraj, a dedicated Virat Kohli fan, the accidental calls became an unforgettable highlight. The villagers have since humorously remarked that Madagaon is now on the "cricket map".
In a separate incident, the close friendship between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers reportedly experienced a strain after de Villiers disclosed information about Anushka Sharma's pregnancy before the couple had made a public announcement. This unintentional revelation occurred in early 2024, during a time when Kohli was on a break from cricket, leading to considerable media attention and personal repercussions. De Villiers later admitted his mistake, acknowledging that the information should not have been shared and even briefly retracting his statement before the birth of Kohli's son, Akaay, was officially announced.
Following the incident, Kohli reportedly did not speak to de Villiers for several months, which de Villiers described as a difficult period, given their close relationship. However, their bond eventually began to heal, and they reconnected approximately six months prior to recent reports. According to de Villiers, he felt relieved when Kohli resumed contact, and they had extensive conversations about the misunderstanding, Kohli's mental well-being, and his career decisions. Kohli also apparently sought advice from de Villiers on handling personal and professional challenges, including the pressures of a long cricketing career and public scrutiny. The two have since reconciled, as evidenced by their visible camaraderie during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebrations.
