'She is a terrific auctioneer'- Former India wicketkeeper-batter heaps praise on Women's T20 League auctioneer Mallika Sagar

DK praises Mallika Sagar (Source: Twitter)

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has heaped praises on Mallika Sagar, the auctioneer for the players' auction of the inaugural edition of the Women's T20 League. Mallika Sagar is an Art collector from Mumbai known for her experience with Art Auctions. Notably, she also has the players' auction for the Pro Kabaddi League 2021 in her resume.

'I'm delighted for the cricketers who will be part of the auctions. I think it's a historic moment for women's cricket. The Indian women cricketers will get their due on the international stage. They will have the ability to play at the highest level. We have seen what the men's IPL has done when it started and the trickle-down effect that it had. I'm hoping the same for the women's cricketers as well."

"We have so much talent around the country, not just in big cities but in smaller cities as well. I'm really hoping that it changes the perception of how being a sportsperson can actually be a profession in the country. It gives the young girls the courage to go to their mothers and fathers and say I want to be a cricket player and follow my dreams. I think it's history in making," Mallika remarked ahead of the auction.

Taking to Twitter, Dinesh Karthik wrote, "Mallika Sagar is a terrific auctioneer. Confident, clear and very poised. Straight away, the right choices in the WPL. Well done, Indian Cricket Board."

Here's the tweet:

MALLIKA SAGAR is a terrific auctioneer

Confident , clear and very poised .

Straight away the right choices in the WPL

Well done @BCCI #WPLAuction #WPL2023

— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 13, 2023

Smriti Mandhana remained the costliest player with a price tag of 3.4 crore INR

India star batter Smriti Mandhana remained the costliest player at the auction, with the Bangalore franchise robbing her for their winning bid of 3.40 crore INR after an intense bidding war with Mumbai. She also scripted history, becoming the first player to be sold at the auction for the premier Women's T20 League scheduled to be played between March 3 and 26 in Mumbai.

Indian players remained the main winners in the auction, with 10 players going in excess of 1 crore. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, young opening batter Shafali Verma, explosive batter Jemimah Rodrigues and allrounders Richa Ghosh and Pooja Vastrakar were the headline purchases among the Indian players. Devika Vaidya also went for a whopping 1.4 crore INR in the accelerated round.

Ashleigh Gardner, Natalie Sciver, Beth Mooney, Sophie Ecclestone, Ellyse Perry, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Tahlia McGrath, Shabnim Ismail and Amelia Kerr were among the key overseas players going for bids higher than 1 crore INR.