Mumbai Indians (MI) on September 24 announced Luke Williams as their new head coach for Women's Premier League (WPL). Williams has been roped in as replacement for Lisa Keightley who has taken up the role as Cricket Australia's national development lead.
Williams was Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach when they won their maiden WPL title in 2024. He had left RCB after 2025 to fulfill his commitments at Adelaide Strikes for Women's Big Bash League (WBBL).
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"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," Williams said in a statement released by MI.
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"We have a great opportunity to build something together, play an exciting brand of cricket and compete for success."
Williams is a decorated coach. He helped Strikes win consecutive WBBL titles in 2022 and 2023 editions. He was Charlotte Edwards' deputy when Southern Brave won The Hundred in 2023. Williams is England women's team assistant coach. There is a question mark on whether he will continue in the role as note. Similarly, it is yet to be seen whether Lisa continues as MI's Hundred franchise, MI London's head coach or not.
How MI performed in WPL 2026
MI have won two WPL titles in 2023 and 2025. The other two are won by RCB. In this year's edition, MI failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led MI finished fourth on the table with five losses from eight games.
Williams will have a few tough calls to make as MI head to the mini-auction, looking to fix the issues in the squad. The WPL auction is set to take place in Kochi, Kerala, on October 28, 2026.
MI did not make it to playoffs despite Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt being in top three run-scorers. Both of them scored 300-plus runs, averaged 60-plus at a strike rate over 150. In the bowling department, Amelia Kerr was their top wicket-taker but lacked support from others.