Charu Sharma

Summary

Charu Sharma is an Indian commentator, compere and quizmaster.[1] He is the director of the Pro Kabaddi League.

Charu Sharma
Sharma conducting the Indian Premier League auction in 2022
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Broadcaster, Commentator

He was the CEO of the Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket team for the 2008 Indian Premier League but was forced to leave due to the team's poor performance in the inaugural season. Even though the Royal Challengers officials said that Sharma resigned by himself, he contradicted them by saying that he was sacked by United Breweries Limited on behalf of Vijay Mallya, the team's owner.[2][3]

Sharma was the stand-in auctioneer at the 2022 Indian Premier League auction, after Hugh Edmeades, the original auctioneer collapsed due to postural hypotension.[4] Sharma conducted the auction after lunch on the first day, and continued till the last session on the next day, when Edmeades returned.[5]

Career edit

Charu Sharma is well known for his television presentations (especially on cricket) along with Mandira Bedi.[6] He is also known as a quizmaster in television programmes and other event. He regularly hosts award shows, corporate events and contributes to teamwork and leadership seminar.

When The Economic Times talked to him about his Royal Challengers Bangalore dismissal he said: "I think I worked very hard for it, probably the hardest ever. Few matches were lost earlier and so heads were lost too. I like to believe that I was in the line of the steam of a pressure cooker that was waiting to release."[7]

Pro Kabaddi edit

The Pro Kabaddi League is a professional kabaddi league founded in 2014. It is an initiative of Mashal Sports, a company which was co-founded by Anand Mahindra and Sharma, who is also a director of Mashal Sports. Star India acquired a 74% stake in Mashal Sports, and now has control over the entire league as a majority owner of Mashal Sports. Mashal Sports has acquired the rights to organize the league for a period of 10 years from International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) with an option to renew it further.

Coca-Cola Bahrain Premier League 2018 edit

Charu Sharma was among the invitees to promote cricket in Bahrain and held the finals of Coca-Cola Bahrain Premier League Quiz 2018.[8]

He is also a member of the Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC).[9]

Personal life edit

Sharma is married to Anuja Sharma (née Mahindra). His wife is the sister of Indian industrialist Anand Mahindra.[10]

His father was the educationist Mr N.C. Sharma, a former vice-principal of Mayo College, Ajmer.

References edit

  1. ^ "9 YARDS to manage Charu Sharma". The Hindu Business Line. 9 December 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  2. ^ The Hindu News Update Service Archived 9 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Our Special Correspondent (8 May 2008). "Sharma says he was sacked". The Telegraph. India. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Just another day with the hammer for Charu Sharma". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. ^ Somani, Saurabh (15 February 2022). "'Just get into a suit and come' - two unusual days in the life of Charu Sharma". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Mandira, Charu to Host Times Now Cricket Show". Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  7. ^ "Charu Sharma: Tee Time With Shaili Chopra". Economic Times. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  8. ^ "BPL 2018 Quiz Finals to be hosted by Charu Sharma". 25 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Bangalore biz group makes political debut, backed 14 candidates for clean administration". India Today. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Charu Sharma and Anand Mahindra come together for an IPL-style Pro Kabbadi league". DNA India. Retrieved 17 April 2023.