IPL 2024 Auction: Mallika Sagar to replace Hugh Edmeades as auctioneer

Mallika Sagar will conduct the IPL Auction in Dubai on Tuesday. Indian Premier League auction will be held outside India for the first time. To mark this rare occasion, there is also going to be a change in host for the auction. Instead of Hughes Edmeades, Mallika Sagar will be the mistress of ceremonies for the mini-auction.

It is the first time in the IPL’s 16-year history that a lady auctioneer will conduct which player goes where at an IPL auction. Richard Madley, Charu Sharma and Hugh Edmeades have been the gravel bangers at previous IPL auctions. It must be pointed out that Charu Sharma had stepped in briefly when Edmeades had been taken ill mid-way into an auction.

Mallika Sagar is a Mumbai-based art expert on contemporary Indian art and works with Art India. She started her career at famed auction house Christie’s in 2001 when she became the first woman auctioneer of Indian origin at the British entity.

Her experience in sports events saw her conduct the auction for the 2021 Pro Kabaddi League and helmed the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai on 9 December. She had also run the WPL auction last season.

Following the 2023 WPL Auction, she earned applause from Royal Challengers Bangalore and Dinesh Karthik for her poise.

“Bold, Confident and Well Prepared! We thank Mallika Sagar for conducting the #WPLAuction with such grace and style. #PlayBold #WPL2023,” Royal Challengers Bangalore had posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“MALLIKA SAGAR is a terrific auctioneer. Confident, clear and very poised. Straight away the right choices in the WPL,” Dinesh Karthik had posted. “Well done @BCCI #WPLAuction #WPL2023,” he added.