Mumbai Indians have managed to make a steal deal for the South African star speedster Gerald Coetzee for 5 crores. Coetzee has made a great start to his international career with impressive performances and he ended up as one of the top 5 wicket-takers in the recently concluded ODI World Cup. In this article, we will look at 3 reasons why Gerald Coetzee is a great addition to the Mumbai Indians squad.
Ideal option for Wankhede Track
Gerald Coetzee is one of the best fast-bowling options for a pitch like Wankhede. He has an attitude and aggression very similar to Dale Steyn which makes him a great prospect. He hits the right lengths and has the knack of troubling the batters with his extra pace. Pace is a skill that can never be imparted, it comes very naturally and Coetzee has got that gift of pace.
Aligns with the philosophy of Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians have always remained consistent with their philosophy of going with fast bowlers who can create an impact. The franchise usually relies on bowlers with genuine pace and Coetzee certainly belongs to that category. As a franchise, Mumbai Indians have always tried to maintain a lethal fast-bowling unit which is why Jofra Archer was bought in 2022, to pair up with Jasprit Bumrah but that move could not come to fruition. Now Bumrah will get assistance from Gerald Coetzee making Mumbai a genuinely threatening bowling unit.
Experience of Indians Wickets
A challenge that every overseas player must counter in the IPL is the unfamiliarity aspect, but Gerald Coetzee would not have any such issues. He has already got considerable experience of Indian tracks as he bowled brilliantly in the ODI World Cup where he helped South Africa qualify for the semi-finals. Coetzee picked up 20 wickets in the World Cup which shows that he has the exact idea of where to bowl in these conditions. This experience will be extremely valuable for him and the franchise.
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