Ravichandran Ashwin Shares Hilarious Story of Being Pranked by Impersonator Post IPL 2025

Mumbai: Ravichandran Ashwin, the celebrated Indian off-spinner, recently opened up about a comical encounter involving a prankster impersonating his former Chennai Super Kings teammate Devon Conway. The prank nearly fooled Ashwin into sharing the personal contact details of none other than Virat Kohli, sparking laughter and relief when the spinner realized the ruse just in time.

The Impersonation Plot

Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel, Ashwin recounted how shortly after the conclusion of IPL 2025, he received a WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be Devon Conway. The conversation started innocuously with greetings, and Ashwin responded warmly, assuring the caller he'd watch him play in the Major League Cricket (MLC).

However, the tone shifted when the impersonator started asking for contact numbers. "He asked, ‘I've lost Virat Kohli's number, can you share it?’" Ashwin recalled, noting his suspicions about the odd request but hesitating to confront, not wanting to offend his supposed teammate.

To protect Kohli’s privacy, Ashwin cleverly handed over a different number from Virat’s contact cards. The impersonator then asked for other players' numbers like Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, which made Ashwin even more wary.

Catching the Prankster Red-Handed

What truly confirmed Ashwin’s doubts was when he asked the prankster about a cricket bat he supposedly gifted him during the IPL season—something Ashwin never did. The imposter lied, saying the bat was amazing, and at that point, Ashwin realized the scam.

"I blocked the contact instantly," he said. Ashwin also double-checked with his Chennai Super Kings group chat and confirmed that the number did not belong to Conway. Ashwin praised his quick thinking and humorously admitted he purposely gave out a WhatsApp number from Australia's end to keep Kohli’s real contact safe.

The ‘Zampa’ Incident: Another Prank

Ashwin also shared another similar attempt by someone posing as Adam Zampa, asking for numbers of several Indian cricketers including Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh. Ashwin turned the tables by asking if Zampa had MS Dhoni’s number, and when the prankster shared a suspicious contact, Ashwin stalled by saying he was compiling an excel sheet of numbers, effectively thwarting the scam.

Ashwin's Stand on Social Media Criticism

In recent days, Ashwin has also spoken out about the undue harsh criticism faced by young pacer Harshit Rana on social media.

"A player should never be attacked below the belt. When criticism gets personal, it changes genre," Ashwin said on his channel. He reflected on his own experience with critics like Sanjay Manjrekar, with whom he's had disagreements but has always maintained professionalism.

Ashwin emphasized that negative comments can mentally affect players, especially youngsters. "Assume Harshit sees the reel criticizing him harshly before a match; it's shattering. If his parents and friends see it, what will they think?" he said. Ashwin urged fans and media to keep criticism focused on skills and performance without turning it personal.