Abhishek Nayar Appointed UP Warriorz Head Coach, Aiming for WPL Title

Abhishek Nayar has been appointed as the new head coach of the UP Warriorz ahead of the fourth season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). He succeeds Jon Lewis, who coached the team for the league's first three years, during which the Warriorz reached the Eliminator in WPL 2023.

Abhishek Nayar at a UP Warriorz training camp. © UP Warriorz

The Warriorz released a statement emphasizing Nayar's credentials: "A respected figure in Indian cricket, Nayar brings a deep understanding of the game, a proven record in player development, and years of experience across various coaching roles at both domestic and international levels."

Nayar's experience includes being part of the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) championship-winning team in IPL 2024 as an assistant coach. He also contributed to the coaching staff of the Indian Men's team when they secured the Champions Trophy victory earlier this year. He has been with KKR since 2018, where he is credited with mentoring players such as Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh.

This appointment marks Nayar's second involvement with the Warriorz, having previously participated in the team's off-season training camps following the inaugural WPL season.

"I really enjoyed my time working with the UP Warriorz before and I'm thrilled to take on this new role," said Nayar regarding his new position. "WPL is a fantastic platform for women's cricket, and I'm looking forward to working closely with the management to build a strong team for Season 4. UP Warriorz already have a strong foundation in place, and I believe we can build something truly special. There is incredible potential, and I will give it my all to help win their first-ever title this season."