Abhishek Nayar Appointed Head Coach of UP Warriorz for Upcoming WPL Season

The UP Warriorz have announced the appointment of Abhishek Nayar as their new head coach. Nayar will lead the team into the fourth season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). He succeeds Jon Lewis, who coached the team for the league's first three seasons, highlighted by a trip to the Eliminator in WPL 2023.

Abhishek Nayar at a UP Warriorz training camp © UP Warriorz

"Nayar's extensive experience and proven ability to develop players make him an ideal fit for the Warriorz," the team stated. He is highly regarded in Indian cricket and brings a wealth of knowledge from coaching roles at both domestic and international levels.

Nayar contributed to Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) IPL 2024 championship as assistant coach. He was also part of the coaching staff when India Men secured the Champions Trophy victory earlier this year. Since 2018, Nayar has been with KKR and is credited with mentoring talents like Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh.

This appointment marks Nayar's second association with the Warriorz, following his involvement in the team's off-season training camps after the inaugural WPL season.

"I valued my previous work with the UP Warriorz and am excited to embrace this new position," Nayar commented. "The WPL provides an excellent stage for women's cricket, and I am eager to collaborate with the management to create a formidable team for Season 4. With a strong foundation already in place, I am confident that we can achieve something truly remarkable and I will dedicate myself to helping them secure their first title this season."