1 / 5IPL auctions is one of the most watched events on Indian TV and on the OTT platforms. While it is the cricketers and the teams that tend to create all the headlines during the auctions, the responsibility of smooth conduct of these IPL auctions is on the shoulders of the auctioneers. As the IPL 2025 mega auction comes closer, we look at the five people who have had the honour of holding the IPL auctions.
2 / 5Richard Madley | Richard Madley was the first-ever auctioneer of the IPL auction. Madley is of the world’s leading sporting auctioneers. He is also known as the 'Hammer Man'. The London Times as “the most important man in cricket”. Madley held the IPL auctions for 10 years. In a recent interview Madley said that his regret as an IPL auctioneer has been that he never got the chance to auction Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Madley is now the auctioneer for South Africa's T20 league, the SA T20. (Image: IPL)
3 / 5Hugh Edmeades | Hugh Edmeades is a British fine art, classic car and charity auctioneer.. He has experience as an auctioneer of over 30 years. According to his official website he has held over conducted more than 2,500 auctions and the sum of his auction is in excess of £2.7 billion. Edmeades took over the mantle of IPL auction from Richard Madley in 2018. Edmeades had an unfortunate incident when he collapsed on the floor in the ballroom of the ITC Gardenia hotel during the first day of the IPL 2022 mega auction. According to reports, Edmeades had suffered “postural hypotension”. (Image: Sportzpics)
4 / 5Charu Sharma | Veteran sports broadcaster Charu Sharma player the role of IPL auctioneer but only very briefly. When Hugh Edmeades collapsed during the IPL 2022 auction, Charu Sharma was present at the auction venue. Without wasting much time BCCI officials requested Sharma to become the auctioneer and Sharma obliged. Sharma continued the IPL auction on the first day of the IPL 2022 mega auction and on the second day as well. When Edmeades was declared fit to resume his role as the IPL auctioneer, Sharma graciously stepped aside and invited the original auctioneer on the stage to take the proceedings to its conclusion. People cheered Sharma's act and gave Edmeades a standing ovation. It remains one of the most heart-warming moments of the IPL auction. (Image: IPL)
5 / 5Mallika Sagar |Malikka Sagar is an Indian art collector and an auctioneer. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to conduct an Indian Premier League auction. She achieved the feat during the IPL 2024 auction which were held in Dubai. A year ago she had also conducted the first-ever Women's Premier League auctions as well. Sagar will continue to remain the IPL auctioneer and will conduct the IPL 2025 auction as well. Outside cricket she has also conducted the auction for the Pro Kabaddi League auction. Sagar is also the first woman to conduct a Pro Kabaddi League auction. (Image: IPL)
