It took me half second to agree for the auctioneer role, says Charu Sharma

It was a normal day for Charu Sharma who after having his lunch was enjoying the dessert, as he received a call from Indian Premiere League (IPL) chairman Brijesh Patel to quickly reach ITC Gardenia where the mega auction was being conducted. As it turned out, Patel requested him to fill in for the role of auctioneer Hugh Edmeades who encountered a health emergency during the proceedings.

All it took Sharma was just ‘half’ a second to agree for the role, as he rushed to the venue within 15 minutes. After another, 15 minutes of briefing, the presenter was ready to fill in the void. Conducting an auction is not a new thing for Sharma as he serves as a professional auctioneer for Bid and Hammer, a Bengaluru-based auction house, and has conducted auctions for the Karnataka Premier League and other sporting events.

Netizens were also impressed with Sharma as he took the role at the very last moment and conducted smooth proceedings even though Sharma has decades of experience in the cricketing business.

“I knew the auctions were taking place here, but I hadn’t tuned in to follow up on what was going on. It was a call from Brijesh and I had to respond to an emergency. I was physically available, and auctioneering is a significant part of who I am. So, I immediately rushed,” Sharma was quoted by Indian Express.

The assignment was unexpected and so were the reactions: Charu Sharma

“Auctioneering is not complicated, but you need your adrenaline flowing and understand what’s going on. It has been heartwarming to receive such messages. The assignment itself was unexpected and so were the reactions,” Sharma added.

Sharma took up a commentator’s role for Doordarshan for the 1982 Asian Games. Before that, he was working in a corporate job before some of his friends suggested him to audition for the commentary. Sharma said, “Back then I had felt being a TV commentator was not something I wanted to do for a living. But anyway, I got pushed into it. And my salary as a commentator was C200 for a day’s work.”