UP Warriorz appointed Abhishek Nayar as head coach for the Women's Premier League fourth season. The former India all-rounder replaces Jon Lewis after three seasons with the franchise. Nayar represented India in three ODIs before retiring from cricket in 2019. He previously served as batting consultant during the team's 2023 off-season training camp in Bengaluru. Comedian Zakir Khan announced the appointment through an Instagram video.
Nayar worked as an assistant coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2018 to 2024 and guided academy players. He coached Trinbago Knight Riders during the 2022 Caribbean Premier League. The Indian cricket team hired him as assistant coach following KKR's 2024 IPL victory. His national team contract concluded after India won the 2025 Champions Trophy. He returned to KKR as assistant coach for the 2025 IPL season before joining UP Warriorz.
The franchise reached the playoffs in 2023 but lost in the eliminator to the Mumbai Indians. They finished fourth in 2024 and last place in 2025 under Deepti Sharma's captaincy.
Nayar worked as an assistant coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2018 to 2024 and guided academy players. He coached Trinbago Knight Riders during the 2022 Caribbean Premier League. The Indian cricket team hired him as assistant coach following KKR's 2024 IPL victory. His national team contract concluded after India won the 2025 Champions Trophy. He returned to KKR as assistant coach for the 2025 IPL season before joining UP Warriorz.
The franchise reached the playoffs in 2023 but lost in the eliminator to the Mumbai Indians. They finished fourth in 2024 and last place in 2025 under Deepti Sharma's captaincy.
