All about Mallika Sagar: The first female auctioneer in the history of IPL

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auctions starting on December 19 in Dubai, Mallika Sagar is all set to become the first female auctioneer in the history of IPL. The auction will feature 333 players, with over half of them being Indian, competing for 77 available slots.

Notably, this marks the first time a female auctioneer will preside over the event, wielding the gavel to declare the IPL players. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) opted not to retain Hugh Edmeades, the previous auctioneer, for this edition. Instead, Mallika Sagar, who recently served as the auctioneer for the Women's Premier League, has been appointed. So, who is Mallika Sagar? Read on to know more.


About Mallika SagarMallika, with her roots in India, completed her education at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, majoring in art history. She initiated her career at Christie's, an international auction house in New York City, where she became the brand's first Indian woman auctioneer.

This isn't Mallika's first venture into sports auctions, as she made history in 2021 by being the first female auctioneer for the Pro Kabaddi League. Her auctioning skills in the Women's Premier League garnered appreciation from her IPL counterparts.


Mallika's inclusion as the auctioneer for the IPL is partly due to health concerns regarding Edmeades, who experienced a collapse on the floor due to "postural hypotension." Edmeades had taken over from Richard Madley in 2018, and Mallika has now assumed the role due to his health condition.

The IPL auction is scheduled for December 19 at 1 pm IST and will be broadcast on Star Sports for TV viewers, with OTT viewers able to watch on the Jio Cinema app.

The 2024 IPL season will witness a significant change as the league has opted to host the matches outside India. Although seat availability might pose a challenge, the Dubai venue is expected to provide an excellent setting.

Mallika Sagar, 48, is renowned in the sports fraternity, bringing 25 years of rich and diverse experience, including her involvement in the Pro Kabaddi League for 2023 and 2024. This marks her first stint in cricket.



Sagar's expertise spans various realms, including modern and contemporary Indian art, and she has previously conducted auctions at Mumbai's prestigious Pundole Art Gallery. She also made history by conducting her first Indian auction for Christie's at the tender age of two. She is also credited as a pioneer in contemporary Indian arts auctions.

Taking over from Charu Sharma, who served as the interim speaker in place of Edmeades at IPL, Mallika Sagar represents a significant shift in the IPL's approach to auctioneering.