MI London Appoints New Coaches for Women's and Men's Teams Ahead of 2026 Season
MI London Announces Coaching Changes
MI London has officially named 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 come with extensive playing and coaching backgrounds in the UK, rooted in strong cricketing traditions. Keightley is recognized for her global coaching expertise and has a notable track record in championships. She has previously led the England Women's team for three years, secured the 2025 Women's Hundred title with the Northern Superchargers, and has coaching experience 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.
Kieron Pollard's Impressive Background
Pollard is celebrated as one of the top T20 cricketers, having participated in over 700 T20 matches. He served as an assistant coach for England during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and played for Surrey in the 2022 T20 Blast. Additionally, he has been involved in multiple seasons of The Hundred with London Spirit and Southern Brave. Currently, Pollard continues to play in various franchise leagues globally while also serving as a batting coach in the IPL with Mumbai Indians.
New Coaches Share Their Vision
Lisa Keightley's Aspirations
Keightley expressed her excitement about joining MI London, stating, "I am thrilled to be part of the MI London women's team for the 2026 season. Having observed the team's previous achievements, I am eager to embark on this journey and embrace a new challenge after last season's success in The Hundred. The Kia Oval offers a fantastic venue, allowing me to merge Surrey's rich cricketing legacy with the MI family's winning culture. My goal is to bring home the trophy and foster a high-performance environment where players can excel and play with confidence."
Kieron Pollard's Vision for Success
Pollard shared his enthusiasm for his new position, saying, "I am privileged to take on the Head Coach role with MI London. My experiences in The Hundred and with Surrey have shown me the strong connection between Surrey's cricket culture and the Mumbai Indians' winning mindset. This is a thrilling opportunity to build a robust team, cultivate a high-performance culture, and strive for ongoing success in the upcoming seasons."
Surrey Directors Join as Advisors
In addition, MI London has announced that Alec Stewart and Emma Calvert, serving as Directors of Cricket at Surrey, will join the cricket leadership teams at MI London as advisors. Their responsibilities will include aiding in decision-making processes related to player acquisitions and squad planning. Stewart and Calvert will maintain their leadership roles with the Surrey men's and women's teams throughout the year and will participate in the MI London men's and women's committees, ensuring equal representation from both Surrey and MI, alongside the respective head coaches.