The International Cricket Council (ICC) has today appointed Sanjog Gupta as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Geoff Allardice, who departed in January after four years at the helm.. Gupta officially assumed the role on July 7, 2025, marking a pivotal moment not only for the ICC’s leadership but for the global cricket landscape.
A Stalwart from Media Steps into Cricket’s Governing Arena
Gupta brings over two decades of deep experience in sports broadcasting, digital strategy, and commercial growth to the ICC. His journey began as a journalist, later ascending to Star India (now JioStar) in 2010. By 2020, he had become head of sports for both Disney and Star India. In November 2024, he took on the role of CEO of JioStar Sports following the merger of Reliance’s Viacom18 with Disney Star.
In reflecting on his appointment, Gupta emphasized, “These are exciting times for the sport as marquee events grow in stature, commercial avenues widen and opportunities such as the women’s game scale in popularity…Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the rapid acceleration of technology deployment/adoption could act as force-multipliers for the cricket movement around the world”. His vantage point at the junction of media, technology, and live sports positions him as a forward-thinking leader at the ICC’s global headquarters in Dubai.
What This Means Following Allardice’s Departure
Allardice, who took on the CEO role on a permanent basis in November 2021 after an interim period covering the tumultuous suspension of Manu Sawhney, officially resigned in January of this year.His tenure came during a time of recovery and structural realignment following the ICC’s leadership shake-up.
Chairman Jay Shah underscored that Gupta was selected from a strong field of candidates—a global search that drew around 2,500 applicants from 25 countries. Shah said Gupta’s “deep understanding of the global sports as well as M&E landscape combined with his continued curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective and passion for technology will prove essential in our ambition to grow the game”.
Key Priorities: Global Growth, Olympic Dreams, Women’s Cricket, Tech
Gupta enters his role with a clear set of strategic priorities:
- Growing global reach: With cricket now played by nearly two billion fans worldwide, he plans to expand ICC’s presence beyond its core markets while nurturing emerging regions.
- Olympic inclusion: He stressed the importance of cricket’s debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, seeing it as a catalyst for global recognition.
- Boosting women’s cricket: Enhancing support for the women’s game is high on his agenda, reflecting growing commercial and grassroots interes.
- Technology-led evolution: From broadcast innovation to fan analytics and officiating systems, Gupta intends to push cricket toward a more tech-centric future .
Reaction from Cricket’s Global Governance
ICC chair Jay Shah emphasized that Gupta’s arrival signals a strategic shift. Shah pointed out the former JioStar executive’s track record in building global sporting franchises, including the IPL and ICC tournaments, as key to broadening cricket’s appeal.
The unanimous backing from the nominations committee and Shah’s final approval showcases a shared vision behind this leadership change: to harness media know-how and tech acumen for cricket’s next level .
Leadership Transition & Forward Momentum
Gupta, as ICC’s seventh CEO, steps into a role with clear expectations: navigate the upcoming Olympic inclusion, deepen the women’s game, embrace tech integration, and grow cricket’s fanbase worldwide.
Under Allardice, the ICC stabilized after previous leadership controversies and delivered consequential events like the 2023 World Cup, and the inaugural World Test Championship. Gupta inherits this foundation with an ambition to elevate protective conditions into a period of proactive expansion and innovation.
Conclusion: A Media Strategist at the Helm
Sanjog Gupta’s appointment marks a transformative moment for cricket’s governing body. With leadership drawn from the heart of sports media and technology, the ICC is signaling a bold pivot. As the sport braces for inevitable changes—like Olympic debut, women’s game prominence, broadcast revolution, and digital fan platforms—Gupta’s arrival may well define cricket’s next chapter.
Under his stewardship, and with unwavering backing from Jay Shah and the ICC board, the sport seems set on a path of ambition, inclusivity, and modernization. The cricket world will be watching closely as Gupta transforms strategic vision into global momentum.
