/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/2024/11/11/2024-11-11t082606806z-shethepeople-black-logo-2000-x-2000-px-1.png){kind=logo}
/shethepeople/media/member_avatars/mgYZhetaB0k3crNYJHNX.jpeg )
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/media_files/2025/12/01/mallika-sagar-2025-12-01-10-32-36.png)
Source: @royalchallengersbengaluru, Instagram
All eyes were on Mallika Sagar at the Women’s Premier League 2026 auction on November 27. The auctioneer who is admired for her calm presence and smooth control over even the most intense bidding battles. She remains at the heart of cricket’s most anticipated women’s auction, guiding every bid and making sure the action runs without a hitch.
Who is Mallika Sagar?
Mallika Sagar is a Mumbai-based artist and auctioneer who has made a strong mark in a field long dominated by men, becoming the first female auctioneer in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
From the world of fine art to the high-energy auctions of cricket and kabaddi, she has proven that skill, focus, and confidence can open doors anywhere.
Growing up in a business family, her fascination with auctions began early inspired by a childhood book featuring a woman auctioneer.
That small spark eventually shaped her path. She went on to pursue a degree in Art History from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia, a foundation that later supported her remarkable journey across art and sports auctions.
From Art to Sports: A New Chapter
Mallika Sagar didn’t start out aiming for sports auctions, but today her voice shapes some of the most-watched bidding rooms across India’s cricket and kabaddi leagues.
Her journey began in 2021 with the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 auction. As the first woman to lead the event, she handled top players like Pardeep Narwal, Rahul Chaudhari, and Deepak Hooda with calm confidence.
It was here that she showed the world that her calm, precise style could shine even in the high-energy, fast-paced world of sports.
Just two years later, she entered the cricketing arena, conducting the historic inaugural WPL auction in 2023.
That same year, during the IPL 2023 mini-auction, she stepped in when veteran auctioneer Hugh Edmeades faced a medical emergency.
As top players like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Harmanpreet Kaur went up for bidding under her lead, her handling of the room earned praise from players and commentators alike.
In 2024, Mallika made history again as the first woman to lead an IPL auction, leading the mini-auction with her usual calm and confidence. For the 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, she continued to hold the reins. Managing top players like Virat Kohli, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shubman Gill. Her ability to manage fast, complex bidding with ease made her the trusted voice of every auction.
Beyond sports, Mallika continues to make an impact in modern Indian art, helping artists gain recognition internationally and shaping how contemporary art is sold.
Her story is more than a series of achievements as it shows how confidence, skill, and determination can break barriers and inspire women to take their place in spaces where their voices are often unheard.