South African pacer Gerald Coetzee is having an excellent 2023 season. He was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, taking 20 wickets in nine matches. Coetzee was acquired by the Mumbai Indians for INR 5 crore in the IPL 2024 auction. He is also a useful batsman and can clear the wicket on his day with the bat.

Gerald Coetzee is part of the South Africa team that will take on India in a two-match Test series starting on December 26. The first Test (Boxing Day Test) will be played at Centurion and Gerald Coetzee is likely to play in the first Test. . The 23-year-old bowler has already played two Tests for South Africa and taken nine wickets in the red-ball format.

Gerald Coetzee recently revealed in an interaction that Dale Steyn was his inspiration to start playing cricket. He faced off against his idol while making his debut for the Joji Stars in the Mzansi Super League. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for 18-year-old Coetzee, who was beyond overwhelmed to take on his childhood cricket hero.

“My cricket hero growing up was Dale Steyn. It was just poetry in motion. I was lucky to meet him. In some initial meetings before that, he was going through a rough patch in red-ball cricket. He was more than open and willing to talk to me. “We had coffee and talked about bowling and the process.”

“We have established a better relationship. I haven’t played with it yet, and I hope to in the future. He’s a really cool person and that was a great moment in my life. It was good to sit and reflect. A great moment in my life.” Coetzee reflected.

Gerald Coetzee made his debut for South Africa in February 2023

Gerald Coetzee debuted in South Africa earlier this year in February and has been a regular member of the team since then. He was at his best during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, taking 20 wickets in just nine games, ahead of the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.

Gerald Coetzee was selected for the South Africa Under 19 team at the age of 16 and played a pivotal role in South Africa’s Under 19 World Cup campaign in 2018, where he took eight wickets with the ball. He was called up as a replacement for the injured Liam Livingstone, representing Rajasthan Royals in the 2021 edition of the IPL. However, he failed to make his IPL debut that season. Gerald Coetzee to make his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in the coming IPL 2024.

The 23-year-old pacer has represented Joburg Super Kings and Texas Super Kings in the SA20 League and Major League Cricket. He will face Team India in the upcoming two-match Test series. The first Test between India and South Africa will be played in Centurion from Boxing Day i.e. December 26. The right-arm pacer could trouble the Indian batsmen with his swing and bounce on a bowler-friendly track.