Mumbai Indians appoint Lisa Keightley as head coach ahead of WPL 2026

Mumbai Indians Women have appointed former Australian international cricketer Lisa Keightley as the head coach for the upcoming season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). She will replace two-time WPL winning coach Charlotte Edwards who joined the England national team as head coach, earlier this year, in April.

Keightley, 54, has represented Australia 92 times (9 WTests, 82 WODIs, 1 WT20I) in her career and was part of the women's World Cup winning squads in 1997 and 2005. Having turned to coaching following her playing career, Keightley has coached both the Australian and England women's national teams.

In her most recent coaching foray, Keightley oversaw a successful campaign for the Northern Superchargers in the Women's Hundred last month where they emerged champions. She has also gained coaching experience in the WBBL with Sydney Thunder.

Speaking on her appointment, Keightley said she was honoured to join a team that has set the "benchmark" in the WPL and was excited to help the franchise build on their success. "It's an honour to join the Mumbai Indians, a team that has set the benchmark in the WPL," Keightley said. "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."

Mumbai Indians are the current defending champions and have won two out of the three WPL editions - 2023 and 2025 - with Royal Challengers Bengaluru having won the title in 2024. In the two years, they emerged victorious, MI beat Delhi Capitals in the final while they lost to eventual champions RCB in the Eliminator in 2024.