Who are the head coaches of all teams in the 2nd edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL)?
The inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League was a grand success. We witnessed thrilling bidding wars in the WPL 2024 auctions. The teams will come into the new season with a rejuvenated approach with the inclusion of fresh faces in every squad. The 2nd edition of the WPL will commence on 23rd February 2024 which is just a few days away. We will have a look at the head coaches for the 2nd edition of the WPL.
Head coaches of WPL 2024:
Charlotte Edwards (Mumbai Indians)
The former England vice-captain and legend had a sensational career as a cricketer and after her retirement, she took up coaching as her career. She is leading the way as a women’s coach and is establishing her legacy as a coach adding multiple silverwares across multiple domestic tournaments and franchise leagues around the world.
In her glorious journey as a coach so far, she won the Charlotte Edwards Cup with the Southern Vipers. She followed that up by guiding her side to the runners-up in the Women’s Hundred (Sourthern Brave), Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (Southern Vipers), and the WBBL (Sydney Sixers) last year in 2022. However, she has turned it around in style as titles galore in the year 2023 as she has guided her side to the Championship title for Mumbai Indians in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League, Southern Brave to their maiden title in the Hundred, and the Southern Vipers to a title in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, followed by a title triumph with the same side in the T20I version of the tournament named after her (Charlotte Edwards Cup) to complete a historic double at the domestic level as a coach. She also guided Southern Brave to their maiden title in the Women’s Hundred in the year 2023.
Jonathan Batty (Delhi Capitals)
Former Gloucestershire wicket-keeper batter Jonathan Betty took up coaching as a career after retiring from cricket. He guided the Oval Invincibles to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 in the Women’s edition of the Hundred. As a result, of his success, he was appointed as the head coach of the Delhi Capitals led by skipper Meg Lanning in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League. He did live up to the expectations as he guided the Delhi Capitals to the final in the inaugural edition of the WPL. However, they ended up as the runners-up to Mumbai Indians.
Luke Williams (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
The Royal Challengers Bangalore had appointed Ben Sawyer as the head coach of the side in the inaugural edition of the WPL. He is also the head coach of the New Zealand Women’s cricket team. RCB had a season to forget last time around as they finished fourth on the points table just ahead of Gujarat Giants at the end of the league stages. As a result of their below-par performances, they have announced Luke Williams as the new head coach of the side replacing Ben Sawyer for the 2nd edition of the tournament.
He guided the Adelaide Strikers led by skipper Tahlia McGrath to their maiden title in the year 2022. They finished as the runners-up on the previous two occasions. As an assistant head coach, alongside Charlotte Edwards, he also guided the Southern Brave led by skipper Anya Shrubsole to their maiden title in the Women’s Hundred. She also worked with South Australian Scorpions in the WNCL in Australia.
John Lewis (UP Warriorz)
The UP Warriorz led by skipper Alyssa Healy had a great season under the guidance of John Lewis who is also the head coach of the senior women’s team. The UP Warriorz qualified for the playoffs courtesy of their top-three finish with 8 points from 4 games. However, they were knocked out courtesy of a massive 72-run defeat against the Mumbai Indians. As a result of their impressive performances in the inaugural edition, John Lewis has been retained as the head coach of the UP Warriorz for the 2nd edition of the WPL.
Michael Klinger (Gujarat Giants)
The Gujarat Giants led by the stand-in skipper Sneh Rana had a season to forget as they finished at the bottom of the points table with 4 points from 8 games including just a couple of victories under the guidance of the former Australian batter Rachael Haynes. They have now named the former Australian batter Michael Klinger as the new head coach for the Gujarat Giants for the upcoming edition of the WPL. During his coaching stint with the Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL, he guided them to the semi-final in the year 2019. The Giants would be keen to turn their fortunes around in the 2nd edition of the WPL season.
