The UP Warriorz have roped in an official to confirm the appointment of Abhishek Nayar as their new head coach ahead of the fourth season of Women’s Premier League (WPL).

He will be replacing Jon Lewis, who parted ways with the franchise after working for the first three-year cycle of the league.

“A respected figure in the Indian cricket circles, Nayar brings with him a deep understanding of the game, a proven track record in player development, and years of experience across various coaching roles at both domestic and international levels,” said UP Warriorz in a statement.

Abhishek Nayar was part of KKR’s title winning campaign in IPL 2024 season as their assistant coach, and was also part of the coaching set-up of India Men when they won Champions Trophy earlier this year.

He joined India men’s national team as a assistant coach after Gautam Gambhir appointed as the India’s head coach. However, his contract was terminated before completion of a year into the job.

He subsequently returned as KKR’s assistant coach for IPL 2025. Abhishek Nayar had been part of KKR since 2018 and has been mentor for several Indian stars like Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh in his stint with the IPL franchise.

“Bringing Abhishek Nayar on board as head coach feels like a natural and exciting step forward for UP Warriorz,” said COO and director of cricket UPW, Kshemal Waingankar.

“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.”

Speaking on his appointment, Abhishek Nayar said, “I really enjoyed my time working with the UP Warriorz before and I’m thrilled to take on this new role.”

“WPL is a fantastic platform for women’s cricket and I’m looking forward to working closely with the management to build a strong team for Season 4,” he added.

“UP Warriorz already have a strong foundation in place, and I believe we can build something truly special. There is incredible potential and I will give it my all to help win their first-ever title this season.”

UP Warriorz has played 25 matches in the WPL across seasons, of which they have lost 15 games and won 10. Deepti Sharma was the captain of UPW in the WPL 2025, after Alyssa Healy was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.