Thomas Dreka (left) is a fast bowler.Image Credit Source: Instagram/Power_Pace_Cricket
With the IPL retention picture clear, it now remains to be seen which player will become part of which team for the upcoming season. This will also become clear on November 24 and 25, when the IPL 2025 mega auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The BCCI announced it on October 5 and now the countdown of this mega auction has begun. This time the auction will be very special because big names like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will also be auctioned. Now all eyes will be on these great players but there will also be curiosity about a player named Thomas Jack Dreka because he will be the first Italian cricketer to participate in the IPL auction.
The BCCI on Tuesday not only announced the venue and dates of the IPL grand auction but also informed how many players have registered this time. In addition, information has also been provided on how many players from which countries are participating. In total, after the registration period ends on November 4, this time 1,574 players are trying their luck, while only a maximum of 204 players will be able to take part in the next season through this auction.
Who is Thomas Jack Draka?
Obviously, teams like Australia, South Africa, England, West Indies and New Zealand will have more players, but in the details released by IPL, Italy’s name caught the most attention. For the first time a player from Italy will be part of the auction. Now, cricket does not have any special identity in Italy, a country famous for sports like football and motor sports, so it is natural to wonder which player from here will come to the IPL auction. For the first time, everyone must have noticed former Australian batsman Joe Burns, who joined the Italian team a few months ago and has played some important innings but is not part of the auction.
According to Sportstar’s report, this Italian player is Thomas Jack Dreka, who is a right-arm fast bowler. The 24-year-old made his T20 debut for Italy this year and has since taken 8 wickets in 4 T20 matches. Draka also has experience in franchise cricket and has played in Canada’s Global T20 League. Playing for Brampton Wolves in this league, Dreka took 11 wickets in 6 matches this season and was joint second.
This is a special connection with ME.
Draka has worked on his fast bowling skills at the Power Pace Cricket Academy in Australia. Now the question is why did Dreka suddenly decide to participate in the IPL auction? One of the reasons for this may also be the Mumbai Indians, who have connections with DRACA. In fact, this Italian fast bowler has joined MI Emirates in the UAE ILT20 T20 league. MI Emirates has purchased Draka for the upcoming league season. Now, if the franchise bought him in a league, then it is likely that Dreka would have registered for the IPL auction only at MI’s behest.