UP Warriorz have named former India all-rounder and ex-assistant coach of the Indian men’s team, Abhishek Nayar, as their new head coach ahead of the next edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Nayar’s appointment follows the franchise’s decision to part ways with Jon Lewis, who had served in the role for the past three seasons. The move signals a fresh direction for UP Warriorz as they look to build on their performances in the WPL under new leadership.
Nayar joins the UP Warriorz setup with a wealth of coaching experience. A stalwart of Mumbai’s first-class cricket scene, he represented India in three ODIs before retiring in 2019. Since then, he has made a successful transition into coaching. He was appointed lead coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders academy in 2018 and later became part of the KKR senior team’s support staff as assistant coach. In 2022, he also took charge as head coach of the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.
During his time at Kolkata Knight Riders, Nayar developed a strong working relationship with the team mentor, Gautam Gambhir. Their partnership proved instrumental in KKR’s title-winning campaign in IPL 2024, which marked the franchise’s third championship.
Following Gambhir’s appointment as head coach of the Indian men’s team later that year, Nayar joined the national setup as assistant coach. However, his stint was cut short, with his contract terminated less than a year into the role. He later returned to KKR as assistant coach for the IPL 2025 season, resuming a position he had held between 2018 and 2024 as part of the franchise’s backroom staff.
Kshemal Waingankar, COO and Director of Cricket at UP Warriorz, told ESPNcricinfo in a conversation that, “Bringing Abhishek Nayar on board as head coach feels like a natural and exciting step forward for UP Warriorz. When someone of Abhishek’s calibre became available, it was a no-brainer. Few in Indian cricket bring the same depth of experience when it comes to shaping players and shaping winning cultures.
The COO and Director of Cricket at UP Warriorz further added, “In just the past 18 months alone, Abhishek has been part of three championship-winning campaigns, each in a different role, each leaving a lasting impact. We are thrilled to have him lead a Warriorz side that’s united, fearless, and hungry to grow. With Abhishek at the helm, we believe this group can do something truly special.”
Although Nayar has not previously coached a women’s team, he led a week-long off-season camp with UP Warriorz in August 2023 in Bengaluru. Over the years, he has also worked individually with several international and uncapped Indian players, helping them refine their skills through focused, one-on-one sessions.
The former assistant coach of Men in Blue has played a pivotal role in unlocking Dinesh Karthik’s potential as a finisher in T20 cricket. Over the years, several prominent players, including Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, have credited him for contributing to their batting resurgence at various stages of their careers.
More recently, KL Rahul acknowledged Abhishek Nayar’s influence on his game, crediting him for his improvement in white-ball cricket. Rahul noted that he had worked extensively with Nayar over the past year, particularly since the latter joined the Indian team’s coaching setup and expressed his appreciation for the guidance and support, he had received.
UP Warriorz have endured a challenging run in the WPL so far. They reached the playoffs in the inaugural 2023 season, only to be knocked out in the eliminator by eventual champions Mumbai Indians. Since then, their performances have dipped, finishing second from bottom in 2024 and ending at the foot of the five-team table in 2025.
Across the three seasons, UPW has played 25 matches, winning ten and losing 15. For the 2025 edition. The franchise will be eager to work closely with their new head coach to improve their performances in the WPL and mount a serious challenge for the title next season. Abhishek Nayar, for his part, will be aiming to replicate his coaching success in the WPL and help UP Warriorz secure their maiden WPL championship.
(Quotes sources from ESPN)
