The UP Warriorz have set their sights higher than ever before in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as they usher in a new era under the guidance of the newly appointed head coach, Abhishek Nayar.
After a disappointing last-place finish in the previous season and with the ache of near-misses in earlier campaigns still fresh, Nayar’s arrival signals not just a change in personnel but a bold transformation in mentality and culture.
For many, the bitter taste of finishing at the bottom might cast a daunting shadow. Yet, for Nayar, it is a unique canvas. The former India assistant coach, who also enjoys a respected stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders, embraces the current scenario with unfiltered optimism.
“I’ve always looked at anything as opportunities, and this is an opportunity, which I’m very, very excited for,” he shares. In his eyes, the only way forward is up, and the UP Warriorz are primed for a renaissance.
At the core of Nayar’s vision is the desire to instill a culture where winning, not just participating, is the very essence of the franchise. “The opportunity is to create a culture where everyone understands that this franchise plays to win trophies, and try and bring that mentality into our ecosystem,” Nayar asserts.
This declaration is more than just words. It’s an invitation for every squad member, from support staff to players, to buy into a philosophy built on ambition, self-belief, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
Nayar’s approach isn’t weighed down by history. Instead, he remains undeterred by past shortcomings. “If I have to be brutally honest, I’m not sure yet what challenges (are that) I’m about to face. I don’t look at the challenges. I look at the opportunities. The opportunities with our team this year are that we’ve obviously been last, last year, so there’s only one way up,” he reflects. It’s a refreshing perspective, focusing on growth rather than regrets.
Nayar brings more than strategic tactical nous; he also provides sharp insights into the current state of women’s cricket in India, especially post-WPL. He’s seen firsthand the rapid evolution: “When you saw the England Women’s team facing up against the Indian Women’s team, you could see a stark difference in power and in the variety of shots; the bowlers as well,” he observes.
This shift isn’t lost on him as he discusses the progress. He points out that Indian teams are now not only competing but winning abroad with conviction, a testament to the new reservoirs of strength and skill emerging within the game.
“WPL will impact not only Indian cricket, but also Indian domestic cricket. It is very different from the first year in a WPL trial, where I felt many people were more touch players,” he says. “(Now) You can see so much more power entering the game. You can see the girls diving around, throws are flat, throws are faster. There’s enormous growth and that’s not going to stop.”
Though his current challenge is with the Warriorz, Nayar’s coaching philosophy is also greatly influenced by his longstanding association with Kolkata Knight Riders, an environment he calls “family.” His swift return to KKR after national assignments underscores a sense of belonging and loyalty. “Everyone throws his weight way too much around (the fact) that it’s family, but for me, I think it’s family because the speed at which I came back [to the team] was a testament to the fact that that’s where I belong in a lot of ways,” he says.
As UP Warriorz begin their new chapter, Nayar’s mindset is set to encourage a seismic shift, turning underdogs into believers and believers into winners. The road may throw up unknown challenges, but if one thing is certain, it is Nayar’s unwavering positivity and his commitment to building a squad that not just competes, but aspires, and expects, to lift trophies.
In a landscape where the WPL is acting as a powerful catalyst for change in women’s cricket, Abhishek Nayar stands ready at the helm of the UP Warriorz, intent on forging a new legacy, one where winning becomes a habit, and the pursuit of excellence, a way of life.
(Quotes sourced from PTI)
