First Italian Player Enters IPL 2025 Auction Amid Record 1,574 Registrations

The IPL 2025 mega auction, scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has drawn a record 1,574 registrations from players across 17 countries. Among these, 409 players are from international teams, while 48 are Indian players with prior IPL experience. Major Indian stars like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul are likely to ignite competitive bidding wars, and an unexpected entry from Italy is also catching attention.

Italy’s Thomas Jack Draca , a 24-year-old medium pacer, has registered for this year’s auction, becoming the first player from his nation to step into the IPL scene. Draca, who has represented Italy in four T20 Internationals, boasts eight wickets to his name. He debuted in international T20s in June 2024, facing Luxembourg during the ICC T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier.

Draca gained additional recognition playing for Brampton Wolves in Canada’s Global T20 league in 2024, where he claimed 11 wickets in six games. Recently signed by MI Emirates, a franchise affiliated with Mumbai Indians, he could draw considerable interest from IPL franchises eager to bolster their bowling lineup.

Among the foreign players vying for a spot in IPL 2025, South Africa leads with 91 entrants, followed by Australia’s 76 players. Big names like Mitchell Starc, who joined Kolkata Knight Riders for a record Rs 24.75 crore last season, have set high base prices, with Starc starting at Rs 2 crore. Other anticipated names include Australian icons Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, and David Warner.

From England, 52 players are also in the auction pool, though notable Test captain Ben Stokes has opted out, choosing to focus on Test preparations for England’s upcoming series. However, in an intriguing twist, veteran pacer James Anderson, who last played T20 cricket in 2014, has signed up for the auction with a base price of Rs 1.25 crore.

As the auction nears, players from a wide spectrum of backgrounds are eager to join the world’s wealthiest franchise league, reflecting the global appeal and competitive spirit of the IPL.