Have any of you watched the movie ‘Jerry Maguire’? If no, then this article is going to tell you about it and if yes, then you would surely know what’s coming up here. Jerry Maguire is a movie based on sports management where the protagonist Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire), plays the role of a sports manager. But what is sport management? Join in to find out what makes it an exciting career.
Sport managers who changed the way the world sees sports
Mustafa Ghouse
A former professional tennis player and 2002 Asian Games bronze medalist, represented India in the Davis Cup before transitioning into sports management. As the founding CEO of JSW Sports, he oversaw franchises like Delhi. Capitals (IPL) and Bengaluru FC (ISL). He is not the Founding General Partner of Centre Court Capital, a VC fund in sports tech and gaming, while continuing with JSW Sports as a Strategic Director.
Jatin Paranjape
A former Indian cricketer and current BCCI Cricket Advisory Committee member, is the Founder and CEO of KheloMore. With past leadership roles at Nike and experience in sports marketing and management, he has been instrumental in shaping athlete development and sports participation in India.
Ravi Krishnan
A pioneer of Indian sports marketing, set up IMG India, created properties like Chennai Open and Lakmé Fashion Week, served as Vice Chairman of IPL’s Rajasthan Royals, co-founded Stepathon Lifestyle, and in 2025 launched Abler Sports and Entertainment (ASE) to drive data-led fan engagement and sportainment.
It is a long-established field admired by many. It is a career that is behind the management of all the sports that takes place on-screen. It is a multidisciplinary field that combines general business principles with specialized knowledge of the sports industry. People who are a part of this field manage smooth functioning of sports organizations, players, teams and events.
The business behind each sport coming to mainstream is crucial to understand. For becoming a sports manager, one should seek skills and qualifications required for it. The qualification route mentioned below gives a clear picture about the career field.
A sports management career begins with understanding about varied sports. Knowledge about the business side of athletics, including marketing, finance, event management, player management, and sports law, helps shape future professionals. Colleges offering related courses equips students with both theoretical and practical exposure.
Being a sports manager opens opportunities in multiple arenas. Sports management as a career equips individuals with choices of related specializations to select from making it a comfortable yet exciting career.
If sport interests you and so does business, then why shy to start from learning about the field early. Structured learning is surely good but a blend of it with early certifications can be better. What do you think?
A personal fit checklist is created for the purpose of helping the students to understand the alignment of their interests and strengths with Sports Management as a career opportunity.
Sports Management
Sports management goes beyond athletes—it’s about business, strategy, and innovation in sports. With the right education, exposure, and skills, you can build a rewarding career at the heart of the global sports industry.
Q. What is the salary of a sports manager in India ?
Ans. A sports manager in India earns around ₹4–10 LPA, depending on experience, organization, and role.
Q. Is mathematics compulsory in sports management?
Ans. Yes, basic mathematics is compulsory for analytics, budgeting, performance statistics, and decision-making in sports-related business operations.
Q. How is sports management a good career choice in today's time?
Ans. It’s a growing field with opportunities in sports marketing, events, analytics, and athlete management as the sports industry expands in India.
Q. Which is the largest sports institute in India?
Ans. The Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, is the largest sports institute in India.
Q. A career in sports management is suitable for whom?
Ans. It’s ideal for those passionate about sports, with skills in management, communication, and leadership.
