Mumbai Indians have made a major change to their coaching setup ahead of the 2027 Women’s Premier League season, appointing Luke Williams as the new head coach of their women’s team.
The franchise confirmed the appointment on September 24, with Williams replacing Lisa Keightley. The Australian coach had taken charge of Mumbai Indians for the 2026 season but has now moved on to become Cricket Australia’s National Development Lead.
Williams arrives with plenty of experience in women’s franchise cricket and already has a WPL title on his coaching record. His appointment comes at an important time for Mumbai Indians, who will be looking to bounce back after finishing fourth in the five-team competition in 2026.
Luke Williams Brings a Strong Coaching Record
Williams coached Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first WPL title in 2024. His success also extends beyond India. Under his leadership, Adelaide Strikers Women won back-to-back WBBL titles in 2022 and 2023. The Australian coach has also worked in The Hundred. Since 2025, he has been part of the England women’s coaching setup.
Before moving fully into coaching, Williams was a first-class cricketer for South Australia. He has spent around two decades working in cricket across Australia, England and India, giving him experience with players and teams in different environments. Williams will bring that experience to Mumbai Indians. Expectations remain high at the franchise.
Mumbai Indians Looking to Bounce Back
Mumbai Indians have enjoyed strong success in the WPL. They won the first title in 2023 and won again in 2025. Harmanpreet Kaur captained both winning teams. The franchise also reached the Eliminator in 2024. However, Mumbai struggled in 2026. With just three wins, they finished fourth.
Williams will have to help the team regain their status as an upper-half team.
With Williams’ signing, Mumbai Indians are also getting a coach who is familiar with the WPL format. Since Williams has already won the league once in 2024 while coaching RCB, he knows exactly how to get a side ready for the event and play matches under pressure.
Lisa Keightley Moves On After One Season
Williams takes over from Lisa Keightley, who spent one season as Mumbai Indians’ head coach.
Keightley joined the franchise in September 2025 and led the team during the 2026 season. Mumbai Indians thanked her for her contribution before confirming that she would take up a new role with Cricket Australia as National Development Lead.
Mumbai Indians acted quickly after Keightley’s departure. They appointed a new coach well before the next WPL season.
Luke Williams Faces An Immediate Squad-Building Task
The new head coach does not have much time before an important deadline. Mumbai Indians must finalise their player retention list by September 28, giving Williams only a few days after his appointment to work with the franchise on its plans for the squad.
The next major date is the WPL 2027 Player Auction, which will be held in Kochi on October 28.Mumbai Indians can use the auction to strengthen their squad. They can also make further changes before the season begins.
With the retention deadline arriving so soon, Williams’ initial involvement will be closely linked to squad planning rather than on-field preparation.
What Nita Ambani Said About Williams
Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani welcomed Williams and pointed to his experience in women’s cricket as one of the reasons for bringing him into the setup.
Ambani said Williams’ record, understanding of the women’s game and focus on player development would be valuable for the franchise. She also backed the partnership between Williams and Harmanpreet Kaur as Mumbai Indians begin a new chapter.
Williams himself said he was excited to join Mumbai Indians and work with the players and support staff. He also spoke about building together, playing an exciting brand of cricket and competing for success.
Also Read: IPL 2027: CSK Set to Reveal New Head Coach as Announcement Date Confirmed
WPL 2027 Dates Confirmed
The fifth season of the Women’s Premier League is scheduled to take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027. Teams must complete their retention plans first. They will then finalise their squads at the October auction. The confirmed roadmap gives Mumbai Indians several months to prepare under their new coach.
For Williams, the first challenge is already here. He must help Mumbai Indians make the right squad decisions before the retention deadline and then prepare a team capable of challenging for another WPL title.
After a fourth-place finish last season, the arrival of a coach with WPL and WBBL championship experience gives the Mumbai Indians a fresh start heading into 2027.
