The second season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) started with a bang, as the opening match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals went down the wire. Both teams put up commendable performances in the first match, and other teams are also expected to follow suit as the league proceeds.
Coaches play a significant role in outlining strategies that every member of the team tries to execute on the field. All 5 WPL teams have the services of the best head coaches this season.
So, we’ll look at the head coaches of all 5 teams in the WPL 2024.
Jonathan Batty | Delhi Capitals
Jonathan Batty bagged the head coach role of the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2023 on the back of successful coaching stints in the 2021 and 2022 Women’s Hundred competition with Oval Invincibles.
Batty, along with skipper Meg Lanning, took the Capitals into the inaugural final, where they lost by 7 wickets against Mumbai Indians.
His standout outing has led the franchise to put its faith again in Batty to guide the team to the WPL title in 2024.
DC Coaching Staff: Hemlata Kala (assistant coach), Lisa Keightley (assistant coach), Biju George (fielding coach)
Michael Klinger | Gujarat Giants
Gujarat Giants (GG) had a terrible outing in the inaugural season, as they lost their captain in the first match due to injury, and Sneh Rana had to step in.
Under the guidance of head coach Rachael Haynes, they managed to win only 2 matches out of 8 and finished at the bottom of the table.
For the 2024 season, the Giants’ have replaced the former Australian cricketer turned coach with another Australian. Michael Klinger has been entrusted with the role of head coach.
GG Coaching Staff: Tushar Arothe (batting coach), Nooshin Al Khadeer (bowling coach), Gavan Twining (fielding coach), Mithali Raj (Mentor)
Also Read | The 10 Best Indian Women Cricketers Of All Time
Charlotte Edwards | Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians kicked off their inaugural season with a win and ended it high by taking home the WPL title. The coach-captain duo of Charlotte Edwards and Harmanpreet Kaur guided their team with perfection throughout the season.
In the second season as well, the duo is back in action and will formulate strategies to defend their title. Of late, Edwards has been delivering triumphs in back-to-back competitions around the world as the head coach.
MI Coaching Staff: Jhulan Goswami (bowling coach/mentor), Devika Palshikar (batting coach), Lydia Greenway (fielding coach), Stacey-Lee Hercules (strength & conditioning coach)
Luke Williams | Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore delivered a below-par performance in the first season despite having an experienced head coach and many players. The head coach, Ben Sawyer, fared poorly in the inaugural season, as the team couldn’t find their best XI possible.
In an attempt to turn the tables, the RCB management has roped in Luke Williams as their new head coach in 2024. Williams has found success with several teams as head coach and assistant coach, leading them to title wins in the WBBL and Women’s Hundred.4
RCB Coaching Staff: Malolan Rangarajan (assistant head coach & head of scouting), RX Murali (batting coach), VR Vanitha (fielding coach & scout), Sania Mirza (mentor)
John Lewis | UP Warriorz
UP Warriorz had an outstanding inaugural season as head coach John Lewis led his team, along with captain Alyssa Healy, to the playoffs. They didn’t manage to enter the final, but overall, Lewis had an impressive stint.
Going by his report card from the previous season, Warriorz have placed their bet once again on Lewis. However, he may not be available after the group stage as he assumes his duties as the head coach of the England Women’s team.
UPW Coaching Staff: Anju Jain (assistant coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Lisa Sthalekar (mentor)
