Mallika Sagar

Sagar was born on 3 August 1975 in Bombay.^[1][2] She was introduced to auctioneering as a teenager when she read a book where the protagonist was a female auctioneer, which inspired her to become an auctioneer.^[1]

Sagar graduated with a degree in the art history at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia.^[3] In 2001, she began her career at the New York City office of international auction house Christie's, becoming the first Indian woman auctioneer at the company.^[1] She specialized in modern art and served as an auctioneer at other auction houses such as the Pundole's Art Galleries in Mumbai.^[4]

Sagar made her first appearance as a sports auctioneer in 2021 by hosting Pro Kabaddi League player auction ahead of the competition's eight season and was the first female auctioneer to host a Pro Kabaddi League auction.^[5] She received an invitation from the auctioneer Hugh Edmeades to serve as his alternative as a precautionary measure prior to the 2021 Indian Premier League auction as the event was held during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] She hosted the player auction as an auctioneer for the inaugural edition of the Women's Premier League.^[3] She was announced as the auctioneer for the 2024 Indian Premier League auction in Dubai, replacing Edmeades.^[6][7][8] She was the first female auctioneer of the Indian Premier League.^[1][4] In November 2024, she was appointed as the auctioneer to host the 2025 Indian Premier League auction.^[9][10]