Watch: Gerald Coetzee bounced back in the ideal manner after getting hit for two back-to-back sixes by Rajat Patidar during today’s IPL 2024 clash between RCB and MI at the Wankhede Stadium.
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Fielding first, Mumbai Indians started off well in helpful conditions for seam bowling. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Virat Kohli in the third over while Akash Madhwal removed IPL debutant Will Jacks in the fourth to give MI the early advantage.
Rajat Patidar, who had not been in any form whatsoever, joined Faf du Plessis at the crease and rescued the innings. The pair stitched together an 82-run partnership for the third wicket.
Patidar hit four sixes in his 26-ball knock that fetched 50 runs. The first two of those sixes came off Shreyas Gopal and Hardik Pandya respectively. At the 11-over mark, he was batting on 38 off 23 when Coetzee came on to bowl.
Patidar smashed a full toss over mid-wicket off the first ball of the over before pulling a short ball over the leg side on the second to get to fifty. Coetzee, however, was not fussed and responded like a typical fast bowler. He bumped ball into Patidar’s body, which got too big for him to control as he edged it through to the wicketkeeper.
Coetzee followed it up with his trademark, vein-popping roar to celebrate the wicket. He finished the innings with figures of 1-42.
