New Delhi: Mallika Sagar, the auctioneer who is the orchestrator of intense bid wars has become an internet personality once again. The Mumbaikar who annually appears for high-stake auctions began her journey in 2021 after Hugh Edmeades had approached her as stand-by as the auction was held amid quarantine during the Covid pandemic.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Sagar remarked that the unexpected opportunity was a new opportunity for her and said:
Hugh had approached me to be his back-up for the IPL 2021 auction. I am immensely thankful to him for this introduction into the world of Indian cricket…
The young auctioneer also added the fact that the new opportunity was a little bit difficult terrain for her given that she had to change her bent of mind from the artistic side to one which is more suited to sports.
Who is Mallika Sagar?
Hailing from the financial capital of India, Mumbai Mallika is an art collector who started her career at Christie’s and held the first sale of Modern Indian Art in New York in 2001. Before her journey at Christie’s, Sagar had been an art history major at Philadelphia’s Bryn Mawr College.
She specialized in the aspects of modern art and prolonged her career prospects as an auctioneer at other auction houses including Pundole’s Art Galleries, predominantly in Mumbai. Interestingly, Sagar wanted to become an auctioneer from a young age after she read a book with a female auctioneer as its protagonist.
According to an interview in the Hindu Business Line, it was in her Junior year in college when Sagar watched a live auction for the first time and was instantly to the engaging process of bidding.
Mallika was also the auctioneer at the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) which became her maiden venture in sports auction. The fame and success that she received from PKL, threw her the opportunity to become the first and only women auctioneer in the cash-rich franchise cricket. Ever since that opportunity, Sagar has been a regular auctioneer in IPLs.
Remaining slots for all the franchises
After an exhausting day in Jeddah on Day 1, here are the remaining slots for all the 10 franchises:
| Team | Maximum slots left | Maximum overseas slots left |
| CSK | 13 | 4 |
| DC | 12 | 4 |
| GT | 11 | 5 |
| KKR | 12 | 3 |
| LSG | 13 | 4 |
| MI | 16 | 7 |
| PBKS | 13 | 6 |
| RCB | 16 | 5 |
| RR | 14 | 4 |
| SRH | 12 | 4 |