IPL 2026: Meet Mallika Sagar, the auctioneer deciding the fate of 369 players

The IPL 2026 auction is underway in Abu Dhabi, with Mallika Sagar presiding over the event for the fourth consecutive time. The ten franchises will be vying for 77 available slots to complete their squads, which can include a maximum of 25 players, with up to eight from overseas.

Sagar, the first woman to ever serve as an IPL auctioneer, initially gained prominence during the 2023 IPL auction. She stepped in after veteran auctioneer Hugh Edmeades had a health issue. Since then, the 50-year-old has overseen the 2024 mini-auction and last year's mega-auction.

**Who is Mallika Sagar?**

Born in Mumbai in 1975, Sagar's background includes an Art History degree from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. At 26, she broke barriers by becoming the first Indian woman auctioneer at Christie’s in New York. Her interest in the field began after reading a book featuring a senior auctioneer as the main character.

She later returned to Mumbai and worked with organizations like Pundole’s Art Gallery, solidifying her position in the auctioneering world. Sagar entered the sports arena in 2021 as the first woman to conduct the Pro Kabaddi League auction. She then became the first-ever auctioneer for the Women’s Premier League.

Following her success in the WPL auction, Sagar was chosen as a standby for the IPL 2022 auction. Her big opportunity arrived during the 2023 IPL auction when she replaced Hugh Edmeades due to his health emergency.

**Early Auction Highlights**

The IPL 2026 auction began with significant activity on Tuesday. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.2 crore. Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings also pursued Green, with CSK reaching a bid of ₹25 crore. Mumbai Indians successfully re-acquired Quinton de Kock at his base price of ₹1 crore. Delhi Capitals secured England's Ben Duckett for his base price of ₹2 crore, while Finn Allen of New Zealand was picked up by KKR for ₹2 crore.

Several notable players have gone unsold thus far, including England's Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Smith, as well as Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and India's KS Bharat.