Mumbai Indians have roped in former Australia batter Lisa Keightley as their head coach ahead of the next season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
The two-time WPL winners were without a head coach since Charlotte Edwards parted ways with them earlier this year.
Charlotte Edwards left MI
Edwards left the Mumbai Indians to take over the England Women’s head coach job earlier this year. She was the head coach for the franchise for the first three WPL seasons.
Under Edwards, the Mumbai Indians enjoyed a successful journey. They won the inaugural season in 2023 before failing to qualify for the final in 2024. However, they bounced back in style this year and won the tournament to become the first team to win the WPL twice.
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It’s an honour to join the Mumbai Indians: Lisa Keightley
Expressing her delight over joining the Mumbai Indians as the head coach, Lisa Keightley said that the team has set the benchmark in WPL with its success in the first three seasons. Keightley also highlighted that she admires the ‘culture of excellence and care’ in the franchise.
“It’s an honour to join the Mumbai Indians, a team that has set the benchmark in the WPL. The culture of excellence and care is something I deeply admire. I look forward to working with this talented group to build on our success and continue inspiring on and off the field,” said Keightley.
Lisa Keightley not new to winning major competitions
Keightley is not new to winning major competitions. She was a part of the Australian team that won the ODI World Cup in 1997 and 2005. After ending her playing career, she has been plying her trade as a coach. In 2007, Keightley became the first woman to be appointed as coach of Australia’s women’s team.
In recent years, the former cricketer has had several coaching stints. She has worked with England Women, Australia Women, Delhi Capitals (WPL), and Sydney Thunder (WBBL). A few weeks ago, she was a part of the backroom staff for Northern Superchargers in the Women’s Hundred.
Talking about her playing career, her international career spanned from 1995 to 2005. Keightley represented Australia in nine Tests, 82 ODIs, and one T20I.