Who is Thomas Draca, the player who brought Italy into the IPL ecosystem?

Thomas Draca, the player who brought Italy into the IPL ecosystem (GTT20 Canada)

A total of 1,574 players — including 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations — have registered for the upcoming IPL mega auction, set to take place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, as confirmed by the BCCI. Amidst this vast pool of talent, one name that has piqued considerable interest is Thomas Draca, listed at number 325, and notably the only player from Italy to make the cut.

The addition of Draca to the IPL auction lineup has sparked intrigue and excitement, especially given cricket’s fledgling status in Italy, a country where football reigns supreme. Imagine an Italian cricketer entering the IPL auction — has that ever happened before? The answer is no, and what makes it even more intriguing is that he has minimal experience in T20 cricket. Yet, his name is already creating a buzz in cricketing circles.

Initially, there was speculation that Italy’s only IPL registrant could be Joe Burns, the former Australian batter who recently moved to Italy. However, it was later confirmed that Draca himself is the Italian entrant, with a base price of INR 30 lakh.

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Draca made his T20I debut for Italy against Luxembourg on June 9 this year. The tall fast bowler has played 10 T20 matches in his short career so far and has gone wicketless on only two occasions. He bagged eight wickets in four matches during the Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Europe Qualifier. The following month, he travelled to Canada to participate in the Global T20 Canada League, where he shone as the leading wicket-taker for Brampton Wolves, securing 11 wickets in six games at an economy rate of 6.88. This performance placed him as the third-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, a standout achievement for the Italy-based cricketer.

In his first game for the Wolves, he returned figures of 3/18 in four overs, including the wicket of Sunil Narine, who was the MVP of KKR in their successful IPL campaign earlier this year. His ability to hurry the batter with both pace and bounce, along with his knack for nipping the new ball around, makes him a valuable asset. After making a name for himself in the GT20, he was selected by MI Emirates, the IPL affiliate of Mumbai Indians, as one of the five new signings for the upcoming season of the ILT20. The fact that he attracted the attention of scouts from an MI-affiliated franchise speaks volumes about the talent and potential this 24-year-old possesses.

Over the years, it has become evident that overseas pacers are always in high demand, whether it's a mini or mega auction. Draca certainly has potential, but it remains to be seen which franchise will put their money on him to secure his services. Additionally, whether he makes the final cut is still uncertain, as the longlist of 1574 players will be further reduced before the auction. While the future remains uncertain, Draca’s progress is promising, and he could emerge as a key player to watch as a rising talent from the associate nations.

In exclusive arrangement with RevSportz