Who is Mallika Sagar? Everything about female auctioneer taking charge of IPL 2024 Auction

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have appointed Mallika Sagar to preside over the IPL 2024 auction, which is taking place in Dubai today (December 19). The auction got underway at 1:00 p.m. IST.

She was also the auctioneer for the two Women's IPL auctions. In a brief video posted by Jio Cinema ahead of WPL 2023 auction, Mallika Sagar said:

"Very, very, very proud. I am delighted for the cricketers who will be the part of the premier league tomorrow. And I think it's a huge moment, a historic moment for women's cricket. I think finally, Indian women's cricketers will get their due on the international stage. They will have the ability to play at the highest level."

She continued:

"We have already seen what the Men's IPL has done when it started and the trickle down effect that had. I am hoping that we will have the same effect for the women's cricketers as well. We have so much talent in our country."

𝑶𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 ✨

Meet the auctioneer for the first-ever #WPLAuction - Mallika Sagar 👏🏻

Watch as 🔝 players get ready to go under the 🔨 👉🏻 Feb 13, 1:30 PM onwards, LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲

#WPL #WPLonJioCinema #WomensPremierLeague https://t.co/Lax1hTRu79

Mallika Sagar, the first-ever female auctioneer of Indian origin, is not new to sports auctions

A historic moment for Indian cricket as Mallika Sagar is all set to conduct the bidding war 🔨

Watch the #WPLAuction 👉🏻 Feb 13, 1:30 PM onwards, LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 📺📲

#WPL #WPLonJioCinema #WomensPremierLeague https://t.co/pkrcOjQ0TP

For those who are unaware, Mallika Sagar is a Mumbai-based art collector and consultant for Modern and Contemporary Indian art.

The auctioneer for the inaugural WPL auction is also a partner with the Art India consultants firm. She has plenty of experience conducting auctions with Pundoles (an art gallery) in Mumbai.

It is noteworthy that Mallika was the first female auctioneer of Indian origin when the 48-year-old began her career at Christie's and held the first sale of Modern Indian Art in New York in 2000.

Interestingly, she is no stranger to the world of sports as she has previously conducted the auction of the 2021 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).

Since there has never been a female auctioneer in the 15-year history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mallika Sagar's appointment is unprecedented. Hugh Edmeades and Richard Madley have conducted the men's IPL auction over the years, with Charu Sharma filling in for Edmeades in 2022 after the latter sustained a heart attack.