New Delhi: The mini-auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is underway in Dubai, where some of the biggest names in cricket are up for grabs. The bidding war has reached a fever pitch, as teams are vying for the best players to strengthen their squads. However, the auction also witnessed a rare and costly mistake by the auctioneer, Mallika Sagar, who is the first woman to conduct the IPL auction.
Mallika Sagar, who works for the auction house Sotheby’s, was entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai. However, she made a glaring error in her very first attempt, which resulted in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) paying Rs 20 lakh more than they should have for West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph.
How the blunder happened
Alzarri Joseph, who is known for his fiery pace and swing, was one of the most sought-after players in the auction. He had a base price of Rs 1 crore, but soon attracted bids from four teams: Chennai Super Kings (CSK), RCB, Lucknow Starlights, and Delhi Capitals (DC). CSK and DC were the first ones to enter the fray, but they backed out after the bid reached Rs 3 crore. Lucknow and RCB continued to battle for Joseph, who had impressed with his performances for the West Indies and in the previous editions of the IPL.
The bidding war went on till Rs 6.40 crore when there was a brief pause. RCB then raised their paddle again, indicating their willingness to pay Rs 6.60 crore for Joseph. However, Mallika Sagar, who was supposed to announce the new bid, mistakenly said Rs 6.80 crore, instead of Rs 6.60 crore. This meant that RCB had to pay Rs 20 lakh extra for Joseph, who was eventually sold to them for Rs 11.50 crore.
RCB’s reaction and Joseph’s benefit
RCB, who are yet to win the IPL title, did not seem to mind the extra cost, as they were happy to secure the services of Joseph, who they hope will bolster their bowling attack. RCB’s director of cricket operations, Mike Hesson, said that Joseph was one of their main targets in the auction and that they were willing to pay a premium for him. He also praised Mallika Sagar for her professionalism and grace and said that such mistakes can happen in a high-pressure situation.
Joseph, on the other hand, was ecstatic with his new deal, which made him one of the most expensive players in the auction. He said that he was grateful for the opportunity to play for RCB and that he was looking forward to sharing the dressing room with some of the legends of the game, such as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. He also said that he was not aware of the auctioneer’s blunder and that he was happy with whatever price he got.
Joseph had previously played for Gujarat Titans in the IPL, who had bought him for Rs 2.40 crore in the 2022 mega auction. He had a decent outing for them, picking up 12 wickets in 14 matches, with a best of 6 for 12 against Hyderabad Sunrisers. However, Gujarat released him before the 2024 season, which proved to be a blessing in disguise for Joseph, who saw his value increase by almost five times in the mini-auction.
