Ahead of the 2024 season, the 17th Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is scheduled to take place in Dubai in an unprecedented move. Mallika Sagar, a first-time female auctioneer, will lead the proceedings in a departure from custom. Sagar replaces Hugh Edmeades for this momentous occasion. Sagar is well-known for her position as the Women’s Premier League’s gavel master.
selection represents inclusivity and diversity on the cricket scene and is a significant turning point in the history of the IPL.
Sagar, the well-known auctioneer from Pundole’s in Mumbai, made a triumphant comeback to the WPL, demonstrating her knowledge and skills outside of the realm of art. Having graduated from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia with a concentration in art history, she made her mark as the first female auctioneer of Indian descent at Christie’s when she joined the company in 2001.
Although Sagar made her debut as an auctioneer for cricket at the most recent WPL sale, she is not new to sports auctions. Being the first woman to oversee the Pro Kabaddi League’s auctions, she broke norms and caused a stir in 2021. This time, she enters a new pitch and succeeds Edmeades in his role as the men’s tournament auctioneer. She received recognition for her work at the WPL auction, which helped pave the way for her historic involvement in a men’s cricket match.
Hugh Edmeades was commended for his dedication to his craft.
Before launching his solo business in 2016, Hugh Edmeades, a seasoned auctioneer for fine art, vintage automobiles, and charity organizations, built a 38-year history at Christie’s. He was a well-known person at Christie’s when he succeeded Richard Madley in 2018 and has since become a mainstay at the IPL auction.
Edmeades suffered a health setback during last year’s mega-auction in Bengaluru when he collapsed from “postural hypotension.” As medical attention was being given, the BCCI executives quickly resorted to Charu Sharma to step in. The franchises and BCCI members enthusiastically praised Edmeades for his remarkable comeback and return to oversee the auction’s completion.
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