The 24-year-old is now doubtful for the second match of the series.
During the recently-concluded first SA vs SL Test match, a newly acquired Gujarat Titans (GT) star who was featuring in the contest, suffered an injury blow.
Proteas fast bowler Gerald Coetzee was picked up GT during the recent Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction for a price of INR 2.4 crores but will now be forced to the sidelines after picking up a groin injury.
The 24-year-old is now doubtful for the second match of the series, slated to be start on December 5. He is set to undergo scans tomorrow (December 1) to understand the extent of his injury.
Coetzee opened the bowling alongside Kagiso Rabada in the morning session of Day 4 but completed only a three-over spell before taking a break. His second spell was limited to just two overs as Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal mounted a strong resistance for Sri Lanka, who had begun the day in a precarious position with five wickets down and facing the prospect of a heavy defeat.
Gerald Coetzee did not return to bowl again before lunch but resumed afterwards, delivering a three-over spell in which he dismissed Chandimal with a caught-and-bowled effort.
South Africa faces a challenge ahead of the second Test as Gerald Coetzee’s absence adds to their concerns. Fast-bowling allrounder Wiaan Mulder is also sidelined due to a fractured right middle finger and has been ruled out of the match scheduled for December 5 in Gqeberha.
Among the three pacers who featured in the Durban Test, Kagiso Rabada and Player-of-the-Match Marco Jansen remain available, while Dane Paterson is the other quick in the squad.
However, finding a replacement fast bowler could be problematic, as Nandre Burger is out for the season with a lower back stress fracture, and Lungi Ngidi is unavailable until January.
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