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The headband, the run, the pace, the aggression, the celebration, the nerve popping out of the neck, oh, bring this on already. Get the 22nd of March here quickly, please. After taking the cricket world by storm in 2023, Gerald Coetzee is now poised and primed to write an eclectic legacy in Blue and Gold. 

The journey of his growth into an international cricketer is similar to his outburst with the ball on the field - quick, dynamic, and dangerously a talent that couldn’t be ignored.

“I grew up playing all sorts of South African sports. My brother and I enjoyed playing competitive sports. In the backyard, we would play rugby, tennis, and cricket. We would also swim. We enjoyed being on the field and being competitive. Cricket was one sport we were a bit better at, and we just really fell in love with it,” Coetzee said in an interview with RevSportz.

Checkpoint 1: COETZEE ANNOUNCES HIS ARRIVAL!

The reputation of bowling thunderbolts right through age-group cricket would see the young sensation from the judicial capital of South Africa, Bloemfontein, climb up the ranks with his 140-plus kph speeds to join the Proteas’ Under-19 team.

In 2018, the world got a first-hand glimpse of the ‘Karate Kid’, a nickname he earned through his iconic headband, courtesy of the Under-19 World Cup. Coetzee finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for South Africa with eight wickets in four games - including a five-wicket haul (5/32 against New Zealand). This sheer display of convincing performances engineered his way to first-class cricket.

Checkpoint 2: DOMESTIC PARADE

At age 17, he joined Knights and made an instant impact with 4/53 in his debut game (Knights vs Warriors, Match 1, CSA 4-Day Series) in 2019. Coetzee would maintain this form throughout the season, as he collected the Knights' Player of the Season for scalping 17 wickets in four games at an average of 24.7. He would also get his first T20 experience with Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League. The years 2020 and 2021 went by for the Proteas prodigy, with a second U-19 World Cup appearance, and gave him his first taste of the IPL carnival, coming in as a replacement for Liam Livingstone at Rajasthan Royals.

Checkpoint 3: WELCOME COETZEE, THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKETER

In 2022, the door to senior professional cricket was opened. He was called up to South Africa’s tours of England and Ireland and later cut into the Proteas’ 2022 T20 World Cup squad.

He had to bide time, but the Coetzee household would have a reason to cheer in February. At last! The speed merchant could finally say that he now represents South Africa in international cricket following his Test debut against West Indies in February 2023.

“​​Even from the 2018 World Cup, I've really thought he's a stand-out performer, that he will play international cricket at some point for South Africa if he stays there," said the great Ian Bishop on a podcast with ESPNCricinfo.

Subsequently, ODI and T20I caps came calling in March (vs West Indies) and August 2023 (vs Australia).

Checkpoint 4: A RECORD-BREAKING ODI WORLD CUP

With Anrich Nortje or Sisanda Magala out injured, South Africa would bank on the promising talent of Gerald Coetzee to spell trouble for opposition teams in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. And what an impact it was -  ten wickets in five matches between overs 11 and 40.

He ruled the middle overs during the CWC, as he bagged 15 of his record 20 wickets in that phase. His 20-wicket haul from eight games made him the first Proteas bowler in World Cup history to achieve this feat - surpassing the previous record of 17 wickets held by Morne Morkel and Lance Klusner. His calendar year 2023 was a well-crafted performance for the ages for a debutant - 47 wickets in 21 matches across all formats.

Checkpoint 5: IPL AUCTION AND JOINING THE FA-MI-LY

His exploits in the ODI World Cup meant Coetzee entered the IPL 2024 mini-auction as one of the marquee players to watch out for. And just as cricket fans were excited, the Proteas star was also in high spirits.

“(The) IPL auction is always fascinating. For every cricketer, whoever is there in the auction, everyone is always anticipating what’s going on. I don’t think I will be watching. I might be on the road or in the bush for a day. I am unsure where I would be, but I will not put myself through that. If I get any messages or calls, wait patiently and see what happens. But I don’t think I will be watching (laughs),” he said.

And at the auction, after a proper tug of war, Coetzee was snapped by the Mumbai Indians. And boy! Our first signing of the mini-auction was delighted to be joining the Fa-MI-ly.

“I’m extremely grateful to be picked up by the Mumbai Indians. I cannot wait to run in at the Wankhede, listen to the fans sing and cheer, play under Hardik (Pandya), and bowl with Bumrah. To all the fans, I cannot wait to see your faces and the flags in the crowd.”

We cannot wait either to see stumps flying around at the Wankhede!