Indian influence at the top levels of world cricket could see a significant increase with Sanjog Gupta, head of live sport at the broadcast giant Jiostar, emerging as the frontrunner for the role of Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Gupta’s potential appointment comes as the ICC looks to fill the position left by Geoff Allardice, whose term ends in July following a notice period.
Gupta’s profile has surged as a likely successor, largely due to his key role at Jiostar, the company holding the ICC’s $3 billion broadcast rights deal for global cricket events. His appointment would also mark the first major change at the ICC since Jay Shah, former Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), assumed the chairmanship of the global governing body in December 2024. Gupta and Shah have a longstanding professional relationship, with Jiostar also serving as the broadcaster for the Indian Premier League (IPL), one of the most lucrative cricket tournaments in the world.
The new ICC chief executive will face numerous challenges, with one of the most pressing being the ongoing negotiations surrounding Jiostar’s multi-billion-dollar agreement for broadcasting global cricket events. The value of this deal could be affected by any potential fallout between India and Pakistan, whose rivalry has been an important part of global cricket. Recent political tensions have raised questions about the future of India-Pakistan matchups, and should the two nations halt their games against each other, the broadcasting deal’s worth could be significantly impacted.
Another major issue for the new CEO will be the overhaul of the World Test Championship. The existing format is set to continue for the 2025-27 cycle, but there is growing pressure to reshape the competition in time for the next Future Tours Programme. The shift in focus is part of a broader strategy to ensure international cricket remains competitive amidst the rise of lucrative franchise leagues, such as the IPL, which is expected to increase the number of games played from 74 to 94 annually by 2028.
Beyond these challenges, the next CEO will also have to navigate the expansion of international women’s cricket and the sport’s bid for Olympic inclusion in 2028. The growing prominence of franchise leagues presents a particular concern, as they continue to compete with traditional international cricket for players, schedules, and television rights. Gupta has already been involved in efforts to address this issue, having been consulted by the World Cricketers’ Association in the creation of a recent report calling for dedicated windows for international fixtures to protect the balance of the sport.
Meanwhile, the IPL is set to resume with 17 remaining matches after a brief suspension due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. The tournament, the richest in cricket, was temporarily halted last week, with questions remaining over how many overseas players, particularly English cricketers contracted to IPL franchises, will return to India. The matches are scheduled to take place across six venues: Bengaluru, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad, with Dharamsala notably absent from the list after the dramatic abandonment of the last game before the hiatus.
The destination for the IPL’s knockout matches and the final is still undecided, but the final match is now rescheduled for June 3. As the tournament resumes, the situation with overseas players and the political backdrop will continue to be a point of keen interest.
