UP Warriorz have turned to Abhishek Nayar as head coach for the next Women’s Premier League season, ending Jon Lewis’ three-year tenure. The decision, confirmed late on Thursday, hands the former India all-rounder his first formal role with a women’s side.
Nayar, 41, brings plenty of mileage from the men’s circuit. A pillar of Mumbai first-class cricket and a three-cap ODI player, he eased into coaching soon after retiring in 2019. He first fronted the Kolkata Knight Riders academy, later became assistant coach, and even led Trinbago Knight Riders during the 2022 CPL. The catalogue also includes an IPL title with KKR in 2024 alongside mentor Gautam Gambhir. A short spell as India’s assistant coach followed before he slipped back into KKR duties for the 2025 campaign.
“Bringing Abhishek Nayar on board as head coach feels like a natural and exciting step forward for UP Warriorz,” said Kshemal Waingankar, COO and director of cricket. “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. 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.”
The connection with UPW is not entirely new. Nayar oversaw a week-long off-season camp in Bengaluru last August, working individually with both capped and uncapped players. His one-to-one style is well documented – Dinesh Karthik often credits him for stretching his T20 finishing repertoire, while Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer have spoken of similar tune-ups. More recently KL Rahul said, “I’ve worked really hard on my white-ball game the last year or so. Big shout-out to Abhishek Nayar. I’ve worked a lot with him ever since he’s come into the Indian team.”
Even so, coaching the WPL presents different rhythms: condensed windows, smaller squads, a mix of international and domestic talent and, inevitably, quick judgments. The Warriorz know those pressures too well. After reaching the eliminator in the inaugural 2023 season, they slipped to fourth in 2024 and then propped up the table in 2025. Ten wins, 15 defeats across 25 games is the blunt record.
Leadership has shifted as well. Alyssa Healy’s injury kept her out of the last campaign, prompting Deepti Sharma to step in as captain. Whether Healy returns or Deepti continues, Nayar’s first task will be coaxing more consistency from a side that flashes potential but fades at key moments.
From a tactical point of view, expect Nayar to lean on familiar themes: clear role definition, fitness blocks during off days, and long batting sessions that mimic late-innings chaos. He tends not to drown players in data, yet the numbers matter – especially around match-ups and power-play scoring rates. If he can stitch those bits together quickly, UPW should at least threaten the play-offs.
An obvious unknown is how he adapts to a women’s dressing-room. Colleagues speak of an open-door approach – frequent chats, occasional blunt feedback, lots of throwdowns. That human touch might be just as important as any whiteboard plan.
For now, the appointment brings cautious optimism. UPW needed new energy; Nayar, out of contract elsewhere, needed a fresh canvas. Both sides may find the timing helpful, though only the coming season will confirm whether the gamble lands.
Squad retentions and the mini-auction are pencilled in for later this year. Until then, Warriorz management say conversations with senior players are already under way. If Nayar can translate his one-on-one success into collective gains, the franchise could move quickly from also-ran to contender. It sounds simple on paper; the WPL’s short, sharp format rarely grants extra breathing space.
