Gerald Coetzee enters all-time IPL list

Gerald Coetzee enters all-time IPL list

Ironically, Mumbai Indians fast bowler Gerald Coetzee did not live up to expectations as yet. He has picked only three wickets in three matches in IPL 2024, which included a wicketless outing at the Wankhede Stadium against Rajasthan Royals on Monday.

But the South Africa star’s name figured in history books after he pipped Mayank Yadav to record the fastest delivery in IPL 2024
to clock the fastest IPL 2024 delivery.

It was barely two nights ago,
Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium when Lucknow Super Giants bowler Mayank, making his debut in the match against Punjab Kings, clocked a 155.8 kmph delivery that left PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan “surprised”. His stellar middle-over spell comprised nine 150-plus thunderbolts and three wickets, for 27 runs, as cricket fraternity watched the young Indian pacer in awe.

On Monday, however, Coetzee broke Mayank’s record
who dished out a 157.4 kmph snorter amidst the IPL 2024 match against Rajasthan. It came in the last ball of Rajasthan’s successful chase at the Wankhede, with Riyan Parag, who just celebrated his half-century, getting the top-edge to the shorter delivery as the ball flew high over the wicketkeeper’s head for a boundary.

Coetzee not only topped the IPL 2024 charts with that scorcher against the Royals, but also entered the all-time IPL list, albeit missing out on the 13-year-old record by Shaun Tait by a whisker. The Aussie legend remains at the top with his 157.71 kmph delivery in IPL 2011.

Notedly, Mumbai roped in Coetzee in the mini-auction last December following his heroics at the 2023 World Cup in India, where he emerged as the first-ever South Africa bowler to pick 20 wickets in a single edition of the 50-over event.

This was preceded by a breakout season in the SA20 last year, where he picked 23 wickets. However, the right-armer has so have managed only three wickets in three matches for Mumbai at an economy rate of 11.43.

News Edit K.V.Raman