Abhishek Nair Appointed as Head Coach of UP Warriors in Women's Premier League

Abhishek Nair, the former Indian all-rounder, has been named the head coach of UP Warriors in the Women's Premier League. Taking over from John Lewis, Nair aims to revitalize the team after two disappointing seasons. With a strong coaching background, including leading KKR to victory in IPL 2024, he brings valuable experience to the role. The UP Warriors management is optimistic about his ability to elevate the team's performance. This marks Nair's first coaching role with a women's team, although he has previously conducted training camps for the Warriors. His track record includes mentoring prominent players like Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 25, 2025, 18:26 IST

New Leadership for UP Warriors

Former Indian all-rounder Abhishek Nair has been appointed as the new head coach of the UP Warriors in the Women's Premier League. He takes over from John Lewis, who held the position for the past three seasons. Following two consecutive seasons of underperformance, the team has opted for a change in leadership.

Nair's extensive coaching experience and his ability to nurture players caught the attention of the team management.

Impressive Coaching Background

Abhishek Nair's coaching career has been quite remarkable. He began his coaching journey with KKR in 2018 and later took on the role of head coach for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. In IPL 2024, he played a crucial role in leading KKR to their third title. Subsequently, he served as an assistant coach for the Indian team, although his tenure was brief before returning to KKR's coaching staff.

Excitement from UP Warriors Management

Khemal Vaingankar, COO of UP Warriors, expressed that having a coach with Abhishek's experience and winning mentality is a privilege. Over the past 18 months, he has led three different teams to championship victories, and the management is confident he will elevate the UP Warriors to new heights.

Nair's First Experience with a Women's Team

This will be Nair's first experience coaching a women's team. However, he previously organized a week-long camp for the UP Warriors in Bengaluru in 2023. He has also played a significant role in revitalizing the careers of players like Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul.