The IPL mega-auction was left stunned after the auctioneer running the event collapsed, falling off stage in terrifying scenes.
The IPL’s mega-auction has been left stunned after auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapsed off the stage in terrifying scenes.
Millions of dollars had already been spent and one of the hottest bidding wars of the event was taking off as Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga’s price crept to 10.75 crore ($A2m).
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As the teams were discussing their next bids as the money crept higher and higher, a commotion happened off camera as the 62-year-old Edmeades collapsed, with the camera seeing him sprawled on the ground as the podium appeared to fall over.
The coverage cut as the IPL auction went to a pause.
The cricket world, which was keeping an eye on the mouth-watering money being handed out, was left stunned by the horrifying scenes.
Reports quickly emerged that he was alright after the fall, having reportedly suffered a bout of postural hypotension.
While it was a heavy fall, he was reportedly just dizzy, however, he has been taken to hospital where he is stable.
“Update from ground zero! Hugh Edmeades the auctioneer is fine but a bit shaken! Was a physical fall no internal issues with him,” Gautam Bhimani tweeted.
Edmeades has over 35 years of experience running auctions and has been the IPL auctioneer since 2018.
It added to the drama as the world’s best cricketers were sold off in cricket’s most lucrative competition.
The IPL mega auction comes as $100 million is on the table as the IPL expands from eight teams to 10 teams
Glenn Maxwell (Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Marcus Stoinis (Lucknow Supergiants) are the only two players who started the day on a team with 47 more Aussies to be considered.
New franchises the Lucknow Super Giants and Ahmedabad Gujarat Titans joined established franchises Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
590 players from around the world will be considered for the auction including 370 Indian players and 220 from overseas.
But it wasn’t a great start for the Australians in the auction as Pat Cummins went for $A1.34m, nearly $2m less than he earned last season, and David Warner lost half of his pay from last season.
But the biggest shock was Steve Smith was passed over completely.