The Mumbai Indians (MI) have announced the appointment of Luke Williams as their new head coach ahead of the 2027 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Williams, who previously led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first WPL title in 2024, succeeds Lisa Keightley, who has opted to step down from her position. This transition marks a significant change for the two-time champions as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Lisa, the former Australia women’s cricketer, was made the MI head coach ahead of WPL 2026 as a replacement for Charlotte Edwards, who took up England women’s head coach job. Williams previously parted ways with RCB last year ahead of the mega auction held in New Delhi due to scheduling overlaps with the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), where he’s head coach of the Adelaide Strikers. “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.
But Lisa joining Cricket Australia as the national development lead earlier this month, where she will be responsible for the development of the women’s game, left her in doubt over continuing with MI in the WPL.
Action will then move to the WPL 2027 player auction, scheduled to be held on October 28 in Kochi. The tournament will be played from January 14 to February 7, 2027, though the host cities for the marquee five-team tournament are yet to be revealed, according to a BCCI statement.
Mumbai Indians Transition: New Leadership Ahead
Mumbai Indians (MI) are entering a new phase as they welcome Luke to the helm. Team owner Nita M. Ambani expressed her enthusiasm for this exciting chapter, wishing Luke and the entire squad the best as they move forward. Ambani also acknowledged the contributions of former coach Lisa Keightley, extending her best wishes for her future endeavors.
