Skipping IPL was the right call: Gus Atkinson

After being snapped up for his base price of INR 1 crore at auction table, Gus Atkinson was all set to make his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the 2024 edition of the competition. 

But a month prior to the start of the competition, the tearaway quick withdrew from IPL 2024 in order to gear up for the home Test season. 

He did not set the stage alight in the County Championship for Surrey — taking 14 wickets in 5 matches at an average of 29 — but the hard yards he put in helped him big time on his Test debut, as he returned dream figures of 12/106 at Lord’s, becoming the first fast bowler in 28 years to take a 10-wicket haul on Test debut.

On the back of his Player of the Match showing, 26-year-old insisted that skipping IPL was absolutely the right call.

“I struggled a bit with rhythm at the start of the season with Surrey and needed a few red-ball games with Surrey leading into this. A lot of people asked me, was it the right decision? But I think I can say now, yeah, it was,” Atkinson said at the post-match presentation, talking about pulling out from IPL 2024.

This Lord’s Test was supposed to be all about James Anderson, and in a way it was, but Atkinson stole the limelight through some scintillating bowling. 

On the back of his dream debut, the 26-year-old paid tribute to Anderson, who he claimed was one of his idols growing up.

"It's been an incredible week. I just want to say thanks to Jimmy. Playing here in his last Test has been incredible, and to do so well has been incredible,” Atkinson said. 

“Growing up, Jimmy was someone I'd come here to Lord's to watch. I was at mid-off looking over at Jimmy running in thinking, 'I've seen this so many times on the TV'. It was amazing.”

Ben Stokes, England skipper, also lavished praise on the debutant. Stokes insisted that, while Atkinson has raw pace, it’s the right-armer’s versatile skill set that makes him the threat he is.

“You don't want to mark him down as just someone with out-and-out pace,” Stokes said of Atkinson. 

“He's very skilful as well. Taking 12 wickets on debut at Lord's, what an amazing start. To see him come out here and deliver the performance he has is very exciting.”

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