As the IPL 2026 auction gets underway in Abu Dhabi, all eyes won’t be restricted to the franchises or the 369 players in the pool. At the centre of the action, once again, will be one Mallika Sagar, the woman who has quietly become one of the most important faces of an IPL auction room.
So, who is Mallika Sagar, and how did she end up running one of the biggest sporting auctions in the world?
Mallika Sagar created history in 2024 when she became the first female auctioneer ever in the history of the IPL. But her path into this high-pressure role began a year prior, during the 2023 IPL auction. During that event, long-time auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapsed mid-way on stage, and Sagar was one who replaced him on very short notice.
What could have been absolute chaos turned out to be the opposite-a moment of calm control. She conducted the remainder of the auction with aplomb, barely missing a beat, and left an indelible impression upon everyone in the room-most of all, the BCCI.
That was a turning point. The board soon signed her on as the full-time IPL auctioneer, ending Edmeades’ long run from 2019 to 2022, ushering in a new era.
Mallika Sagar’s Profile
Off the cricket field, Sagar’s resume is no less impressive. Born in Mumbai to a family of businessmen, her fascination with auctions began at an early age. After studying art history at Philadelphia’s Bryn Mawr College, she joined Christie’s, one of the most esteemed international auction houses, in 2001. She was leading high-profile auctions in art by the time she was 26, known for her clear-as-a-bell voice, confidence and absolute control over the room.
Mallika’s entry in IPL
Her transition from fine art into sports auctions came in 2021 when she was contracted as the Pro Kabaddi League’s first woman auctioneer. That role was a stepping stone to the IPL, whose high-stakes environment she fit seamlessly into with poise and style.
Mallika Sagar’s voice at the IPL auction table is more than a change of voice behind the microphone. This was a big signal, on cue, with regard to the league itself-that the biggest theatre for cricket has swung open a few doors in these hitherto male-dominated spaces. For many young women who watched her, she was proof that authority, expertise, and composure come in many shapes.
With franchises all set to engage in a bidding war and last-minute strategies at the IPL 2026 auction, Sagar will once again be trusted with keeping proceedings sharp, fair and flowing. If her previous outings were anything to go by, the auction is in very safe hands.
Also Read: BCCI makes surprising last-minute change before IPL 2026 auction, leaves franchises in shock
