IPL 2022 auctioneer Hugh Edmeades stable, set to take over on Day 2

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction was paused midway after auctioneer Hugh Edmeades fell down from the podium due to low blood pressure and was then immediately taken to the hospital. However, according to the BCCI, he is however said to be stable and responding well to the treatment. The auction was therefore brought to an abrupt end temporarily and resumed after the lunch break, with commentator Charu Sharma conducting the other half. 

"He has been attended to by a doctor. He is doing fine, his blood pressure dropped suddenly and that was the reason for his sudden collapse. We will know more once he has a thorough check-up," a BCCI source told PTI.

"What we understand is that he is stable. We have not been told whether he will conduct the auction or not," a franchise representative told Cricbuzz.

Cricket.com understands that Edmeades is said to take over on Day 2 but confirmation is yet to arrive. 

The auction was in the middle of a bidding war for Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) going after him. At the time of the incident, the bid was with RCB at INR 10.75 crore, from a base price of INR 1 crore, and later, when Sharma resumed the auction, Hasaranga went to RCB on the same price. 

Sharma had the experience of conducting auctions in various tournaments, including Karnataka Premier League, and for Bid and Hammer, an art gallery, in Bangalore. Sharma conducted with grace and poise, with an impeccable understanding of the intricacies as well as lacing them with lyrical words.