Cricket

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaches, teams are strategizing their purchases. Dinesh Karthik, batting coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has predicted that South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee could command a hefty sum.Coetzee, currently part of the South African squad facing India in a T20I series, impressed in the second match. He dismissed opener Abhishek Sharma and contributed 19 runs off nine balls, helping his team secure victory.Karthik believes Coetzee's versatility and impressive performances will spark a bidding war at the auction, scheduled for November 24 and 25. "He's a thinking cricketer who has worked on his batting. He's not just a one-trick pony," Karthik said.Coetzee was acquired by Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 5 crore in IPL 2024, taking 13 wickets in 10 games. However, he was released ahead of the mega auction.RCB, with the second-highest purse of INR 83 cr, has retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan also praised Coetzee's batting prowess and dedication to his role.Coetzee's performances in the ongoing T20I series have further enhanced his reputation. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him a valuable asset for any IPL franchise.Teams will be eager to secure Coetzee's services at the mega auction, and it remains to be seen how high the bidding will go for the talented South African all-rounder.

South Africa's Test squad for the upcoming series against West Indies has undergone a change, with fast bowler Gerald Coetzee ruled out due to a side strain. Coetzee sustained the injury while playing for Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket (MLC) T20 franchise league in the USA.Following assessments by South Africa's medical team, Coetzee was deemed unfit to participate in the Test series, which commences on August 7. In his place, uncapped Test player Migael Pretorius has been called up.Pretorius, 29, has a wealth of experience in first-class cricket, having played 64 matches and claimed 188 wickets at an average of 27.50. He is currently the leading wicket-taker for Somerset in the ongoing English County Championship, with 23 wickets.Pretorius has previously been named in South Africa squads but has yet to make his international debut. He was part of the T20I squad for the series against Pakistan in March 2021 but did not play. He was also called up for the Test series in Sri Lanka in December 2020 but withdrew due to a shoulder injury.South Africa's Test squad for the West Indies series now includes:* Temba Bavuma (capt)* David Bedingham* Matthew Breetzke* Nandre Burger* Tony de Zorzi* Keshav Maharaj* Aiden Markram* Wiaan Mulder* Lungi Ngidi* Dane Paterson* Dane Piedt* Kagiso Rabada* Tristan Stubbs* Ryan Rickelton* Kyle Verreynne* Migael PretoriusThe Test series will begin in Port-of-Spain, followed by the second Test in Providence. Three T20Is will conclude the tour from August 24 to 28.

Hardik Pandya's leadership of the Mumbai Indians (MI) has been a subject of scrutiny, with some questioning his decisions. However, South African pacer Gerald Coetzee, who made his IPL debut for MI this season, has come to Pandya's defense, describing him as an "exceptional" captain.Pandya took over the captaincy of MI from the highly successful Rohit Sharma, but the five-time IPL champions failed to make the playoffs under his leadership. This led to criticism from MI fans, who had high expectations after Pandya's success with the Gujarat Titans, which he led to the IPL title in its inaugural season.Despite the criticism, Coetzee believes Pandya has been a strong leader for MI. "I think he's been a really good captain," Coetzee said. "Every captain has a unique style and no captain is the same. He's (Hardik) been really good, he's been really motivational to the guys, he's been really clear with the plans, I think he's an exceptional captain."Coetzee also praised the atmosphere in the MI dressing room under Pandya's leadership. "I think the mood in the dressing room has been really good," he said. "We've done our best every game, we've prepared well. We've made some mistakes and sometimes we've been outplayed.""It's still really good. And we've got strong leaders, we've got really good players. I think there's not much to look into that. I think it's been in a good mood consistently, right throughout," he added.Despite Coetzee's positive assessment, MI's season ended in disappointment as they became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. However, Pandya's leadership will likely be under further scrutiny next season as MI looks to rebuild and return to its former glory.