On July 7, 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Sanjog Gupta as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a historic moment for cricket’s global governance.
Gupta, a media mogul and the former CEO of Sports & Live Experiences at JioStar, steps into the role with immediate effect, replacing Geoff Allardice.
Paired with ICC Chairman Jay Shah, the youngest-ever chair at 36, Gupta’s appointment signals India’s growing clout in cricket, as celebrated on X by @LoyalSachinFan: “Indians are everywhere in the ICC!”
With over two decades of experience in sports broadcasting and strategy, Gupta is poised to drive cricket’s Olympic ambitions and digital revolution.
This article explores his journey, the rigorous selection process, and why his partnership with Shah is a game-changer for cricket in 2025.
- Historic Appointment: Sanjog Gupta, named ICC CEO on July 7, 2025, becomes the seventh chief, replacing Geoff Allardice, per Business Standard.
- Media Expertise: Gupta’s leadership at JioStar scaled IPL, ICC events, and leagues like Pro Kabaddi, per News18.
- Jay Shah’s Vision: Shah, ICC Chairman since December 2024, aims for Olympic inclusion and global expansion, with Gupta as a key ally, per The Hindu BusinessLine.
- Rigorous Selection: Over 2,500 applications from 25 countries were reviewed, with Gupta unanimously chosen by the ICC Nominations Committee, per ICC.
- Challenges Ahead: Balancing T20 leagues, geopolitical tensions, and women’s cricket growth are Gupta’s priorities, per The Guardian.
Sanjog Gupta: From Journalist to Cricket’s Global Leader
Sanjog Gupta, a Delhi University economics graduate, began his career as a journalist with The Tribune in Delhi, per @faizanlakhani.
Joining Star India (now JioStar) in 2010, he rose through roles in content, programming, and strategy, becoming Head of Sports at Disney & Star India in 2020, per Republic World.
After the 2024 Viacom18-Disney merger, Gupta was named CEO of JioStar Sports, overseeing marquee properties like the Indian Premier League (IPL), ICC events, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), and global events like Wimbledon, per The Hindu BusinessLine.
His leadership transformed sports broadcasting in India, introducing multi-language commentary, digital-first coverage, and women-centric initiatives, per News18.
Gupta’s knack for blending business acumen with fan-focused storytelling scaled JioStar’s sports portfolio, boosting viewership and revenue, per cricket.one.
As @vijaymirror tweeted, “An experienced hand in television media, he is a good addition to the Governing Body headed by @JayShah.”
His vision for cricket includes enhancing fan experiences and leveraging technology, making him a natural fit for the ICC’s global ambitions, per adgully.com.
The Appointment Process: A Global Search
Gupta’s appointment followed a meticulous global recruitment process launched in March 2025, after Geoff Allardice announced his resignation for personal reasons, per timesnowhindi.com.
The ICC received over 2,500 applications from 25 countries, ranging from sports administrators to corporate executives, per New Indian Express.
The ICC’s HR & Remuneration Committee shortlisted 12 candidates, whose profiles were reviewed by a Nominations Committee comprising ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, ECB Chair Richard Thompson, SLC President Shammi Silva, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, per Business Standard.
The committee unanimously recommended Gupta, a decision approved by Chairman Jay Shah and ratified by the full ICC Board, per ICC.
Shah praised Gupta’s “deep understanding of the global sports and M&E landscape” and his “curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective,” per cricketaddictor.com.
The rigorous process, as noted by @CNBCTV18Live, underscores the role’s global appeal, with Gupta’s media expertise setting him apart.
Jay Shah and Gupta: India’s Power Duo
Jay Shah’s election as ICC Chairman in December 2024, at age 36, marked him as the youngest-ever chair, succeeding Greg Barclay, per olympics.com.
As former BCCI Secretary and ACC Chairman, Shah has championed cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and pushed for technological advancements, per Jagran Josh.
His partnership with Gupta, who shares a history of collaboration from their BCCI and IPL work, strengthens India’s influence, as @shekharluthra tweeted: “Another master stroke by Mota bhai…Jay Shah has now Sanjog Gupta to guide him.”
Shah’s vision includes balancing Test, ODI, and T20 formats, expanding women’s cricket, and tapping new markets like the US, per cricketaddictor.com.
Gupta’s experience in commercializing IPL and ICC events aligns perfectly, with Shah noting, “His passion for technology will prove essential in our ambition to grow the game,” per The Hindu BusinessLine.
Their duo is set to navigate challenges like the IPL’s expansion to 94 matches and India-Pakistan geopolitical tensions, per cricket.one.
Challenges and Opportunities
Gupta faces a packed agenda as ICC CEO:
- T20 League Conflicts: Balancing IPL’s growth with international cricket windows, per cricket.one.
- Geopolitical Tensions: Managing India-Pakistan relations for events like the 2026 World Club Championship, per cricketaddictor.com.
- Olympic Push: Ensuring cricket’s success at LA 2028, per News18.
- Women’s Cricket: Scaling female participation and viewership, per adgully.com.
- Digital Innovation: Enhancing streaming and fan engagement, leveraging Gupta’s JioStar expertise, per Jagran Josh.
Opportunities include cricket’s 2 billion global fans and its Olympic debut, which Gupta called “force multipliers” for growth, per revsportz.in. His digital-first approach could revolutionize ICC’s media strategy, per The Guardian.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointment Date | July 7, 2025, effective immediately |
| Previous Role | CEO, Sports & Live Experiences, JioStar (Nov 2024–Jul 2025) |
| Career Start | Journalist at The Tribune, joined Star India in 2010 |
| Key Achievements | Scaled IPL, ICC events, Pro Kabaddi, ISL; introduced multi-language and women-centric coverage |
| Selection Process | 2,500+ applications, 12 shortlisted, unanimous Nominations Committee choice |
| Nominations Committee | Imran Khwaja (ICC Deputy Chair), Richard Thompson (ECB), Shammi Silva (SLC), Devajit Saikia (BCCI) |
| Goals | Olympic inclusion (LA 2028), women’s cricket growth, digital innovation |
Gupta’s appointment is a hot topic for several reasons:
- Indian Dominance: With Shah as Chairman, India’s influence grows, per @LoyalSachinFan.
- Media Expertise: Gupta’s broadcasting background excites fans, as @vijaymirror noted.
- Olympic Ambition: Cricket’s LA 2028 inclusion fuels buzz, per News18.
- Global Reach: Gupta’s digital-first approach aligns with streaming trends, per Jagran Josh.
- Historic Shift: First Indian media executive as ICC CEO, per cricketaddictor.com.
Broader Implications
Cricket’s Global Growth
Gupta’s commercial expertise could boost ICC’s $3 billion media rights deal and expand markets like the US, per The Guardian. His Olympic focus aligns with Shah’s vision, per olympics.com.
Women’s Cricket
Gupta’s women-centric coverage at JioStar could elevate WPL and ICC women’s events, per adgully.com.
Digital Transformation
His digital-first strategy may reshape how fans consume cricket, per Jagran Josh.
Tips for Fans
- Follow Updates: Track @ICCMediaComms for Gupta’s initiatives, per @faizanlakhani.
- Watch ICC Events: Stream IPL and Champions Trophy on JioCinema for Gupta’s legacy, per News18.
- Engage on X: Join #ICC2025 discussions to share views on Gupta’s role.
- Support Women’s Cricket: Watch WPL 2025 to back Gupta’s vision, per adgully.com.
- Plan for Olympics: Get excited for cricket’s LA 2028 debut, per olympics.com.
Sanjog Gupta’s appointment as ICC CEO on July 7, 2025, alongside Chairman Jay Shah, marks a bold new era for cricket. From his journalism days at The Tribune to scaling JioStar’s sports empire, Gupta’s journey is a testament to vision and grit, per Republic World.
His unanimous selection from 2,500 global applicants, per ICC, reflects his stature as a media pioneer. With Shah, he’ll tackle T20 conflicts, geopolitical challenges, and Olympic dreams, per cricket.one.
As @shekharluthra tweeted, this “master stroke” duo could redefine cricket’s global footprint.
Whether it’s streaming IPL in multiple languages or cheering at LA 2028, Gupta’s leadership promises a thrilling ride for cricket’s 2 billion fans. So, grab your popcorn and bat—cricket’s future just got a lot more exciting
