Women's Premier League's (WPL) first season was held back in 2023 between five teams, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Gujarat Giants. Mumbai Indians won the inaugural season by seven wickets. However, in the second season of WPL, which was held in 2024, we saw a completely different script.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, who finished the first season in second last position in the table, lifted the trophy in 2024. RCB has beaten Mumbai Indians in the eliminator round and won the final after beating Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets. While the first season grabbed a lot of headlines, the second season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) has taken the women's franchise Twenty20 cricket to a completely different level.
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Apart from lifting the spirits of women cricketers in India to a sudden increase in the viewership of Women's Premier League (WPL), it is quite visible that the women's franchise of Twenty20 cricket is making waves across the country. However, not everyone is aware of the fact that WPL has made a significant mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as it has given the first female auctioneer of the Men's Twenty20 cricket in the name of Mallika Sagar.
For the unversed, Mallika Sagar is a recognised auctioneer, who has conducted a series of auctions in her career so far. It was back in 2023 when Mallika got the opportunity to conduct the auction of the Women's Premier League's inaugural season.
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The auctioneer grabbed the attention of the makers of the Indian Premier League. The way Mallika interacted with the team owners or representatives during the bidding process at the auction was something fresh and a bit different than the traditional bidding.
As a result, Mallika Sagar caught the eyes of the Indian Premier League and created history by becoming the first female auctioneer of the IPL to replace Hugh Edmeades, who has been doing the job for the last 16 years.
It was a massive moment for Mallika as she took over the mantle from a legend like Hugh Edmeades, who has been handling the IPL auctions for decades with perfection. However, Mallika demonstrated immense courage and confidence in her diverse 25-year experience.
After hosting the auction of Women's Premier League 2023 and Indian Premier League 2024, Mallika Sagar was once again called up for the Women's Premier League 2024. With three major tournaments under her belt so far, reports are rife that she will be the favourite to host the auctions of upcoming seasons of WOP and IPL.
It's fair to say that Mallika got recognition after she conducted the auction of the 2023 Women's Premier League, but not everyone is aware of the fact that Pro Kabbadi League 2021 (PKL) is the one that introduced her to the Indian sports and broadcasting industry.
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According to a report in Al Jazeera, Mallika Sagar was born into a business family in Mumbai. Although the traces of her schooling aren't available in the public domain, but it is mentioned in multiple media reports that she went to the US for higher studies.
As per a report in the Financial Express, Mallika pursued a major at Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. After completing her major in the US, she returned to India and started working at the international auction house, Christie's. She was the first Indian to become an auctioneer at Christie's, which is based in New York City, USA.
In a conversation with Al Jazeera, Mallika Sagar opened up about her job as an auctioneer and shared a series of valuable insights into her work. The ace auctioneer stated that conducting an auction is a mix of three things, maths, theatre and drama.
Sharing more insights about the same, Mallika revealed that any person, who wants to become an auctioneer, should have the skill to handle pressure and nervousness. Opening more about the skillset required to become an auctioneer, she said:
"You could be the most engaging male auctioneer, the most boring female auctioneer or vice versa – it's about personality and skills. Depending on what you're selling, you have to learn the mechanics of the auctioneering process and blend it with math, theatre and drama – all wrapped up in a smile! Regardless of the situation, you can't panic. You cannot let your nervousness take over your job. Having composure as part of your skillset is a must."
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In the same interview, Mallika Sagar was asked to reveal the reason why she decided to become an auctioneer, which is a not-so-common profession in India, as people aren't fully aware of it. In response to the same, Mallika revealed that she was introduced to the world of auctioneering during her teenage years when she read a book with a female auctioneer as its protagonist. It's incredible the way Mallika saw a dream and stuck to it and is now one of the leading names in India when it comes to auctions.
We hope Mallika Sagar continues to thrive in her professional journey as an auctioneer and inspires millions of girls nationwide.
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