Italy’s Thomas Jack Draca, a 24-year-old right-arm medium pacer, has added his name to the IPL 2025 mega auction, set to occur in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. The upcoming auction has drawn a massive pool of 1,574 players from 17 different countries, including 409 international players and 48 Indian cricketers with prior caps. While Indian stars like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul are expected to spark fierce bidding wars, Draca’s entry as the first Italian cricketer to register adds an international twist to the event.

Draca made his T20I debut for Italy against Luxembourg on June 29, 2024, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier. So far, he has taken eight wickets in four T20I matches. Draca’s potential to make an impression in the IPL isn’t without precedent; he recently competed for Brampton Wolves in the 2024 Global T20 Canada, claiming 11 wickets in six matches. Following his performance, he was picked up by MI Emirates, the Mumbai Indians’ sister team, for the 2025 season of the ILT20. If he advances to the shortlist, he might catch the attention of the Mumbai Indians in the IPL auction as well.

The overseas contingent registered for this auction is dominated by 91 players from South Africa and 76 from Australia. Among them, Mitchell Starc, who fetched a high bid of Rs 24.75 crore from KKR in the 2024 auction, has listed his base price at Rs 2 crore. Australian stars like T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, and former opener David Warner will also be up for grabs. Additionally, 52 players from England are in the running, although Test captain Ben Stokes has opted out to prioritize his Test career. His focus will be on preparing for England’s five-match Test series against India and the Ashes, set for mid-March through May.

Interestingly, England’s veteran pacer James Anderson, who last appeared in a T20 match in 2014, has registered for the auction, entering at a base price of Rs 1.25 crore.