MI London Appoints Lisa Keightley and Kieron Pollard as Coaches for 2026 Season
New Coaching Appointments at MI London
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] - MI London has announced the appointment of Lisa Keightley as the head coach for the women's team and Kieron Pollard for the men's team in preparation for the 2026 season. Both coaches bring a wealth of playing and coaching experience from the UK, rooted in strong cricketing backgrounds.
Keightley is renowned for her extensive global coaching experience and a track record of success. She has been a pivotal figure in women's cricket, having led the England Women’s team for three years, steered the Northern Superchargers to victory in the 2025 Women’s Hundred, and coached in both the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) with Sydney Thunder and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Mumbai Indians, according to a press release.
Pollard, celebrated as one of the finest T20 cricketers, has participated in over 700 T20 matches. He served as an assistant coach for England during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, played for Surrey in the 2022 T20 Blast, and has had multiple stints in The Hundred with London Spirit and Southern Brave. In addition to his coaching role in the IPL with Mumbai Indians, he continues to play in various franchise leagues globally.
Expressing her excitement, Keightley stated, “I am thrilled to join the MI London women’s team for the 2026 season. Having observed the team’s previous achievements, I am eager to embark on this new challenge after winning The Hundred last season. The Kia Oval is an exceptional venue, providing a unique opportunity to merge Surrey’s rich cricketing legacy with the MI family’s winning culture. My goal at MI London is to secure the trophy and foster a high-performance environment where players can excel and play with confidence.”
Pollard remarked, “I am privileged to take on the Head Coach position with MI London. My experiences in The Hundred and with Surrey have shown me the strong synergy between Surrey’s cricketing ethos and the Mumbai Indians’ winning mentality. This is a fantastic opportunity to cultivate a robust team, establish a high-performance culture, and strive for ongoing success in the upcoming seasons.”
Additionally, MI London has confirmed that Alec Stewart and Emma Calvert, in their capacities as Directors of Cricket at Surrey, will join the cricket leadership teams at MI London as advisors. Their role will involve supporting the decision-making processes for the teams, including player recruitment and squad planning, while continuing to lead the Surrey men’s and women’s teams throughout the year.
The duo will participate in the MI London men’s and women’s committees, which will feature equal representation from both Surrey and MI, alongside the respective head coaches.