Charu Sharma came to BCCI's rescue after Hugh Edmeades collapsed mid-way during the auction.
Charu pulled off a spectacular job after receiving an emergency call from IPL chairman Brijesh Patel. He had guests at home and didn’t watch the auction on TV as well and, thus, had no idea that Edmeades had a fall mid-way into the proceedings.
"I live next door, not very far from the hotel," Charu Sharma told Cricbuzz in an exclusive chat. "When I reached, I was told what had happened to Hugh Edmeades - the original IPL auctioneer from England, who fell off the dais due to Postural Hypotension. I said 'fine, let's do it. We had a 15-minute session. I inquired about what all had been conducted and what was left to do. The IPL officials then asked me if the break should be extended. I said 'don't'. I had some fun."
"Yes, fun. It is a profession that is not alien to me. It was just another day with the hammer. The difference was, maybe, more people were watching and following it. Professional job is a professional job, two people involved or two million or two billion and whether it is a Rs 2 auction or a Rs 1 billion auction," he added.
While Sharma had the experience of conducting auctions before, he admitted that the IPL auction is different.
"Yes, so many. I did it for many smaller leagues. I have designed, conceptualised and conducted many leagues," he said. "The skill is the same but object is different."
"It is a very big global kind of thing. So many people's lives are made. One does feel sorry for those who have not made it. That is life. I was so sorry for Sandeep Lamichhane, the player from neighbour Nepal (when he was unsold).
"But I think the IPL auction is well beyond all of those involved in it. It is eventually about the players. You feel very happy when players get large sums of money to showcase their talent. That is the overwhelming memory that people are absorbed by teams. Eventually it's all about the game inside the ropes, isn't it?"
Charu Sharma felt nice about the fact that he could be of help to the IPL.
"It is a terrible thing to say but I will say it anyway. My life is all about sports. It was nice to be able to be of service to sport, essentially."
He didn’t get an opportunity to meet Edmeades as the latter was in hospital.
"He was in hospital. I wish him well." So will he be standing in for him on Day Two as well? "I have no information. If they call me I will go," Sharma concluded.
(With Cricbuzz inputs)