Mallika Sagar returns as the auctioneer for the IPL 2026 mini auction, continuing a run that has quietly reshaped what was once a male-dominated space. After making history last season, she becomes the first woman to preside over multiple IPL auctions, a sign that the BCCI is clearly comfortable placing the gavel in her hands again.
Who is Mallika Sagar, the IPL 2026 auctioneer?
Sagar is not a new face to high-pressure auction rooms. With over two decades of experience, she has handled auctions across sport and art with equal authority. Long before the IPL spotlight found her, she had already built a reputation working with elite art institutions such as Christie’s, Pundoles and Art India Consultants.
Her breakthrough moment came in 2000, when she conducted Christie’s first-ever sale of Modern Indian Art in New York, becoming the first female auctioneer of Indian origin to do so. From there, her career only expanded.
In Indian sport, Sagar first broke barriers in 2021 when she became the first female auctioneer in Pro Kabaddi League history. Two years later, she was trusted with the inaugural Women’s Premier League auction and it was fitting to have a female auctioneer. She has since gone on to conduct the IPL 2024 mini auction, the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, and the WPL 2026 auction in New Delhi.
IPL Auctioneer over the years
| Auctioneer | Years |
|---|---|
| Richard Madley | 2008-2018 |
| Hugh Edmeades | 2018, 2021-2023 |
| Charu Sharma | 2022 |
| Mallika Sagar | 2024-2026* |
The IPL 2026 mini auction takes place today at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, starting at 2:30 PM IST. While it may be labelled “mini”, the stakes are anything but small.
A total of 369 players are available, with just 77 slots up for grabs, including 31 overseas spots. Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings walk in with a combined purse of Rs 107.70 crore, setting the stage for aggressive bidding. Cameron Green is expected to dominate headlines, with names like Ravi Bishnoi, Liam Livingstone and David Miller also likely to draw big numbers.
