Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals have roped in Gerald Coetzee – a fast bowler from South Africa for the remainder of IPL 2021. The cricketer joins as a replacement for England batter Liam Livingstone, who pulled out of the tournament citing bubble fatigue.
Incidentally, Livingstone has left IPL 2021 and flown home to England due to bubble fatigue accumulated over the past year. Incidentally, the batsman has been traveling since the last year. He was a part of the England team that toured South Africa late last year before entering the Big Bash League bubble for his two-month-long stint with Perth Scorchers. Livingstone was also a part of England’s limited-overs squad that traveled to India for three ODIs and five T20Is
Apart from this, Rajasthan Royals have been marred with injury concerns. Jofra Archer will be missing the entire IPL 2021 while all-rounder Ben Stokes was ruled with a finger injury he sustained in the first game of the tournament. On top of that, fast bowler Andrew Tye pulled out of the competition amid the growing rise of COVID19 cases in the country.
Rajasthan Royals sign Gerald Coetzee
With only a handful of overseas cricketers in the squad, Rajasthan Royals were in search of overseas players. In a bid to solve their woes, they have added the 20-year-old Gerald Coetzee to their squad. the young fast bowler is highly rated in South Africa and has earned praise from Allan Dolland and Dale Steyn. The Sanju Samson-led side has also roped in South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen.
“Rajasthan Royals have signed South African fast bowler Gerald Coetzee as a replacement for England’s Liam Livingstone for the remainder of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021,” IPL said in a statement.
Incidentally, Gerald Coetzee has played eight T20 matches so far and has taken nine wickets at an average of 23.33 in the format. The right-arm bowler has also played six first-class and List A matches each. He has also represented his country in two under-19 World Cups.
Rajasthan Royals currently find themselves in the seventh position in the IPL 2021 points table with only two wins from six outings. Next up, they face Sunrisers Hyderabad, who also have had a dismal season so far.
