Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is set to witness a record-breaking number of players, including 409 overseas stars from 16 countries. Among them, Thomas Jack Draca, a 24-year-old fast bowler from Italy, has emerged as a player to watch.Draca's rise to prominence began in the Global T20 Canada 2024 league, where he impressed with his pace and accuracy. In just six games, he claimed 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.88. His performances caught the attention of the Italian national team, and he made his debut in June 2024.In his four T20Is for Italy, Draca has already taken eight wickets, including those of established international players like Sunil Narine, David Wiese, Kyle Mayers, and Iftikhar Ahmed. His ability to bowl deceptive variations and swing has made him a formidable opponent.Draca's success in Canada has also attracted the attention of IPL franchises. MI Emirates, a subsidiary of Mumbai Indians, has signed him for the upcoming ILT20 in the UAE, indicating that he could be a potential target for the five-time IPL champions in the 2025 mega auction.Draca has registered himself as an all-rounder for the IPL auction, although he is yet to make a significant impact as a batter. However, his impressive bowling performances and potential as a multi-dimensional player make him an intriguing prospect for IPL teams.With his pace, variation, and ability to dismiss top-class batsmen, Thomas Jack Draca is poised to make a mark in the IPL 2025 mega auction. His unique status as the first-ever Italian player in the IPL adds an extra layer of intrigue to his story.

The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) super auction, scheduled for November 24-25 in Jeddah, has attracted a diverse pool of 1,574 players, including notable names from England, Italy, and the United States.Among the top Indian players released by their franchises are Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, R Ashwin, and Yuzvendra Chahal. These players have a base price of Rs 2 crore each. Other prominent Indian players on the list include Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Deepak Chahar, Ishan Kishan, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, all with a base price of Rs 2 crore.International players also feature prominently in the auction pool. Former England pacer James Anderson, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year, has registered for the IPL for the first time with a base price of Rs 1.25 crore. Italian quick Thomas Draca, the first Italian player to sign up for the IPL, has a base price of Rs 30 lakh.India-born USA medium pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, who impressed at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, will also go under the hammer with a base salary of Rs 30 lakh. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who was unsold in previous auctions, has entered the race with a starting price of Rs 2 crore. Mitchell Starc, an Australian pacer who cost Rs 24.50 crore at the last IPL auction, is back in the running with a base price of Rs 2 crore. England pacer Jofra Archer, who last competed in the 2023 edition, is also priced at the same base level.IPL teams can assemble a squad of 25 players each, with up to six players allowed to be retained prior to the super auction. After 10 teams collectively retained 46 players, there will be 204 spots available. Punjab Kings have the highest available funds with Rs 110.5 crore, while Mumbai Indians have the lowest with Rs 45 crore.