IPL Auction 2026: Who Is Mallika Sagar, the Auctioneer Leading the Mini Auction?

Mallika Sagar will step back to the auction podium for the Indian Premier League 2026 Mini Auction, which takes place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on 16 December 2025. The experienced auctioneer will again oversee bidding as IPL teams fine-tune their squads.

This will be the latest in a sequence of cricket auctions led by Sagar. Sagar earlier conducted the IPL 2024 mini auction, then handled the high-profile IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Sagar also led the Women's Premier League 2026 auction earlier this year.

IPL 2026 Mini Auction and Sagar's earlier T20 auction roles

Sagar first gained large public attention in 2021. That year, Sagar became the first woman auctioneer in the Pro Kabaddi League, challenging long-standing norms in a field usually dominated by men. The performance drew notice from sports administrators and fans across leagues.

Her profile rose further in 2023, when Sagar conducted the inaugural Women's Premier League auction. The same year, Sagar reached another landmark by becoming the first Indian individual to lead an auction for an Indian T20 league. These assignments helped build authority before the latest IPL duties.

IPL 2026 Mini Auction and Sagar's professional art background

Beyond cricket and kabaddi, Sagar has a long career in the art world. Based in Mumbai, Sagar works as an art collector and consultant, with a focus on Modern and Contemporary Indian art. Sagar is a partner at Art India Consultants and has conducted many auctions with Pundoles.

Sagar studied in Connecticut and later completed an Art History degree at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. A childhood book that featured a woman auctioneer sparked interest in the profession. That early inspiration shaped Sagar's eventual move towards the auction stage.

Sagar's formal auction career began in 2001 at Sotheby's London. At 26, Sagar became the first woman auctioneer of Indian origin at Christie's. Earlier IPL auctions had familiar names like Richard Madley and Hugh Edmeades, but Sagar has now secured a regular place among them.

With this record across art and sport, Sagar heads into the IPL 2026 Mini Auction as an established figure in auction rooms. The Abu Dhabi event on 16 December 2025 will extend a journey that links international art houses, Indian franchises and major domestic leagues.