The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Sanjog Gupta as its new Chief Executive Officer after a global search that attracted over 2,500 candidates.
The ICC announced that Sanjog Gupta will officially take on his role as CEO on Monday, marking him as the seventh individual to hold this position in the organization’s history.
“The ICC welcomes Sanjog Gupta as he prepares to lead cricket’s global journey into a transformative future,” said the ICC in an official statement.
The selection process for the CEO position began in March, with candidates from 25 countries vying for the role. The diversity of applicants, including top executives from various sporting bodies and other industries, underscores the prominence and global appeal of this high-profile position.
Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, announced Gupta’s appointment, highlighting his extensive experience in the fields of sports strategy, commercialization, and media.
“Sanjog brings extensive experience in sports strategy and commercialization, which will be invaluable for the ICC,” said Shah. “His deep understanding of the global sports and media landscape, combined with a strong curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective and a passion for technology, will be essential to our vision of expanding the game worldwide—including establishing cricket as a regular Olympic sport.”
According to Shah, although several outstanding candidates were considered, the ICC’s Nominations Committee unanimously recommended Gupta. The recommendation was then approved by Shah following a further evaluation and eventually ratified by the full ICC Board.
The Nominations Committee responsible for the selection process included ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, ECB Chair Richard Thompson, SLC President Shammi Silva, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.
In his first statement as the CEO-designate, Gupta expressed his enthusiasm for the role and noted the exciting momentum behind the sport of cricket.
“It is a privilege to take on this role at a time when cricket is poised for unprecedented growth, with the support of nearly 2 billion passionate fans worldwide,” Gupta stated. “The sport is evolving rapidly—with marquee events growing in stature, women’s cricket gaining popularity, and technology driving innovation. Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics offers a massive opportunity to amplify the sport globally.”
Gupta also emphasized his commitment to enhancing collaboration with member boards and improving the global fan experience.
Having established himself as a veteran in India’s sports media industry, Gupta has been instrumental in the growth of major cricket properties like the IPL and ICC events. He also played a pivotal role in launching domestic leagues such as the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) and Indian Super League (ISL), while expanding the reach of international tournaments such as the Premier League and Wimbledon.
Gupta started his career as a journalist before joining Star India (now JioStar) in 2010. Over the years, he held various leadership positions in content, programming, and strategy. In 2020, he was appointed Head of Sports at Disney & Star India, where he pushed for multi-language broadcasts, digital-first strategies, and women-centric sports coverage.
Gupta’s appointment comes amid a dynamic period for cricket on the global stage, bringing fresh strategic insights to a sport on the verge of significant global expansion, according to India New England.