Trailblazer at the Gavel: Mallika Sagar on Breaking Barriers, Mastering Auctions, and Inspiring the Next Generation | Exclusive

Add as a preferred source on Google

In a world where sports and spectacle often blend into a high-stakes game of strategy and showmanship, one voice has come to symbolize poise, command, and quiet revolution - Mallika Sagar. The first woman auctioneer to conduct a Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) auction, and a regular face at the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auctions, Sagar has steadily built a legacy from behind the gavel.

MyKhel caught up with the ever-graceful Sagar during the PKL Season 12 auction, where she had just wrapped up the first half of Day 2. With time at a premium, the conversation was swift, focused, and refreshingly candid.

Preparation Amid Chaos

Steering high-pressure auctions requires more than just reading out numbers. For Sagar, preparation is everything.

“You have to be familiar with each player that you're going to be offering that day,” she explained. “You go through the list, understand the categories, the players, their pronunciation—because each of them is getting just one shot on that stage. You want to give them their due.”

Her meticulous approach reflects a deep respect for the athletes. It isn’t just about numbers—it's about presenting careers, dreams, and potential to the highest bidder with fairness and precision.

Cricket vs. Kabaddi: Two Arenas, One Method

Having led auctions for both IPL and PKL, Sagar sees both similarities and subtleties in the processes.

“Conceptually, they're quite similar. Both are about auctioning sportspersons, segregated by categories, skill sets, and rules. But each league has its own nuances,” she said. From differences in base prices to final bid match rules and terminology, each format demands its own kind of homework. But for Sagar, adaptability is second nature.

The Rise of Women in Indian Sports

A particularly poignant moment in the interview came when discussing the rise of women's opportunities in sports—especially within a traditional sport like kabaddi.

“With the WPL setting the tone in cricket, there’s no reason similar opportunities can’t come up in kabaddi,” she said. “There's so much untapped talent in the country. If creating a women’s league gives young girls another career avenue—why not?”

Her optimism is grounded in realism. She sees the evolution of sport as more than just competition it’s a societal shift.

PKL Auction Structure

Mallika has been in the auction table for PKL before. And when speaking about the transformation, she acknowledges the FBM rule, which was introduced by the PKL, where a franchise could book the services of a released player for up to two seasons by matching the bid of another team in the auction.

Auction Day Surprises? She Leaves That to the Owners

On being asked about surprise picks or perceived overpayments, she demurred, choosing diplomacy over drama. And another thing she depicts about is the poise of an auctioneer, which is one of the fundamental aspects.

“That’s for the team owners to decide. They know their strategies better. My job is to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.”

Message to Aspiring Women Professionals

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from Sagar came as she addressed young women aspiring to enter the world of sport, finance, or any other domain considered unconventional. The cohesion of talent with originality can propel one towards the zenith, and Mallika believes hard work in any profession plays a pivotal part.

"I think in general, there's no substitute for hard work, no matter what background you come from, no matter what profession you choose. And I think it's also not confining yourself to a box, but having the confidence and the ability to to think outside the box and not be afraid to try something new, not be afraid to try something that hasn't been done before, because even if you are not successful at it you tried at least. Don't create any artificial kind of confines for yourself, but just go out and try and do what you want to do the best you can do it."

The Fundamental Mantras

Mallika Sagar is not merely an auctioneer. She is a symbol of a shifting paradigm, where women not only participate in the sports ecosystem but shape it, define its terms, and lead its evolution. When asked about the key criteria to excel as an auctioneer, she points out - Ability of Multitasking Calmly, Presence of Mind and last but not least, a Sense of Humour.

In the silent pauses between hammer strikes, in the clarity with which she calls out numbers, there’s an assertion, that women like her are here not as tokens, but as professionals commanding the room. And for a country still finding its footing in creating equal opportunities in sport, that gavel may just be ringing in a new era.