HEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
MUMBAI,
SEPTEMBER 24, 2026
Mumbai Indians have
appointed Australian coach Luke Williams as their new Head Coach ahead of the
2027 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, succeeding Lisa Keightley, who has
decided to move on from her role.
Williams brings
extensive experience in women’s cricket, having coached across Australia,
England and India and been part of title-winning campaigns in three major T20
competitions. He will take charge of a Mumbai Indians side that has won two of
the WPL’s four editions, in 2023 and 2025, under the captaincy of Harmanpreet
Kaur.
Nita M. Ambani said,
“We are delighted to welcome Luke Williams to the Mumbai Indians family. Luke
is a proven winner and brings with him rich experience, a deep understanding of
the women’s game, and a strong commitment to developing players.
“Our girls have created a proud legacy in the
WPL, and I am confident that, with Luke’s guidance and Harman’s leadership,
they will continue to grow, achieve greater success, and inspire young girls
everywhere to dream big. I wish Luke, and the entire team, the very best as we
begin this exciting new chapter together.
“I would also like to thank Lisa Keightley for
her contribution to Mumbai Indians and wish her the very best for the future.”
A former first-class
cricketer for South Australia, Williams has built a strong coaching résumé in
women’s cricket. He has been part of title-winning teams in the Women’s Big
Bash League in Australia in 2022 and 2023, The Hundred in England as Assistant
Coach in 2023, and the WPL in India in 2024.
Williams, who has
also been a three-time recipient of the Bradman Medal for grade cricket in the
2005-06, 2007-08 and 2009-10 seasons, has spent two decades working in cricket
across Australia, England and India. Since 2025, he has served as Assistant
Coach of the England Women’s team.
Speaking after his
appointment, Williams said, “I’m really excited to be joining Mumbai Indians, a
respected and successful organisation, and working with this talented group of
players and support staff. We have a great opportunity to build something
together, play an exciting brand of cricket and compete for success. I’m
looking forward to the challenge and to giving our fans plenty to be proud of.”
Mumbai Indians have
established a strong record in the WPL, winning the inaugural edition in 2023
and lifting the title again in 2025. The franchise will now enter the 2027
season under Williams, with Harmanpreet Kaur continuing to lead the side.
Mumbai Indians, owned
by Reliance Industries Limited through its subsidiary Indiawin Sports Private
Limited, is a global cricket franchise with teams across multiple T20 leagues
and continents.
The Mumbai Indians family currently comprises seven teams across four continents and five countries, featuring both men’s and women’s teams.
With 13 championship titles across global T20 competitions, the Mumbai Indians franchise has won five IPL titles, two Champions League T20 titles, two WPL titles, two Major League Cricket titles with MI New York, one ILT20 title with MI Emirates and one SA20 title with MI Cape Town. The franchise also has MI London teams competing in The Hundred in England.