25-07-2025
UP Warriorz appoint Abhishek Nayar as head coach
Nayar, who represented Mumbai with distinction in first-class cricket, also played three ODIs for India before his retirement in 2019. Since then, he has made a name for himself in coaching and was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders support staff as their assistant coach during their triumphant IPL campaign in 2024.
Several high-profile cricketers such as Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul have spoken about the positive turn that Nayar allegedly brought about in their game.
He has also served as the coach of the KKR Academy in 2018 and was the head coach of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League in 2022.
Nayar was appointed as the Indian men's team's assistant coach after Gautam Gambhir became its head coach and was part of the team that won the Champions Trophy in the UAE earlier this year. However, his contract was allegedly terminated after that, and he returned as KKR's assistant coach for IPL 2025.
Jinisha Sharma, director at Capri Sports, which owns the franchise, said, "We believe that this appointment shows our strong intent to elevate the team's performance and push for greater success in the upcoming WPL season. With Abhishek Nayar's leadership, experience in coaching at the highest level and ability to bring out the best in players, the franchise is confident of a strong showing this season."
Kshemal Waingankar, COO, UP Warriorz, said, "Abhishek Nayar is one of the best brains in the business in global cricket, and we are delighted to have him on our side as the head coach. We are excited about his vision for UP Warriorz, and we are confident that under his leadership, the team can provide its fans with many more memorable moments in the future."
