Did UP Warriorz Appoint Abhishek Nayar as Their New Head Coach?

New Delhi, July 25 (NationPress) UP Warriorz (UPW) have appointed Abhishek Nayar, a former all-rounder for the Indian men's cricket team, as their new head coach in preparation for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Nayar is set to replace Jon Lewis, who served as the franchise's coach for the last three years.

Nayar's new role was announced via an Instagram video featuring comedian Zakir Khan. Having played three ODIs for India, Nayar was also a key player for Mumbai in domestic cricket until his retirement in 2019.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my previous experience with the UP Warriorz, and I am excited about this new opportunity. The WPL represents an incredible platform for women's cricket, and I am eager to collaborate with the management to assemble a competitive team for Season 4,” Nayar expressed.

“The foundation at UP Warriorz is strong, and I believe we can create something truly remarkable. There is immense potential, and I am committed to helping the team secure its first title this season,” he stated in an announcement released by the franchise on Friday.

Nayar previously joined the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as an assistant coach from 2018 to 2024, in addition to heading their academy. He also took on the role of head coach for the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) during the 2022 Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

After KKR's victory in IPL 2024, Nayar was appointed as an assistant coach for the Indian national team; however, his contract ended shortly after the team won the 2025 Champions Trophy. He later returned to KKR as an assistant coach for IPL 2025.

This marks Nayar's first full-time coaching role in women's cricket, although he served as a batting consultant during the franchise's off-season camp in Bengaluru in August 2023.

“Abhishek Nayar is one of the brightest minds in global cricket, and we are thrilled to have him as our Head Coach. We are excited about his vision for UP Warriorz, and we believe that under his guidance, the team will create many unforgettable moments for its fans in the future,” said Kshemal Waingankar, COO of UP Warriorz.

Nayar played a vital role in enhancing Dinesh Karthik's skills as a T20 finisher late in his career. He has also received accolades from players like Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi for revitalizing their batting careers, and has been praised for his coaching abilities by Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Varun Chakaravarthy.

In 2023, UPW reached the playoffs but lost to the eventual champions, Mumbai Indians, in the eliminator. However, during the 2024 season, UPW did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing fourth in the points table.

In WPL 2025, UPW was captained by India's off-spin bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma after regular captain Alyssa Healy was sidelined due to a knee injury, and the team ended up at the bottom of the points table.