Newly appointed Mumbai Indians head coach Luke Williams has expressed his excitement about working with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, praising her exceptional talent, leadership and captaincy as he prepares to guide the franchise in the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season.
Williams, who previously coached Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the WPL title in 2024, said he was delighted to return to the competition and take charge of one of its most successful teams.
“I’ve had the pleasure of coaching against Harman in several leagues all over the world and have seen her fabulous talent and brilliant captaincy and leadership qualities and have been able to admire her from afar. So I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to work with Harman and work together to really get the best out of the team for this season,” Williams said in a video shared on Mumbai Indians’ YouTube channel.
Describing his appointment as an honour, the Australian coach said Mumbai Indians had established themselves as a formidable force in the WPL, having won the competition twice.
He praised the team’s aggressive approach, depth of talent and passionate fan base, saying he wanted to maintain a style of cricket that puts opponents under constant pressure.
“MI is playing an exciting brand of cricket. Quite intimidating as a team with a fantastic fan base as well as players who can take the game away from you very, very quickly,” he said.
Williams added that the team would continue to embrace an aggressive and relentless approach, with an emphasis on entertaining supporters and refusing to give up in challenging situations.
With the WPL auction scheduled to take place in Kochi on October 28, Williams said he did not anticipate a major overhaul of the existing squad, citing its strong core and balance across departments.
He said the focus would instead be on refining the combination to suit different playing conditions, while ensuring the right mix of batting, pace bowling and spin.
“The squad that we have got is a really good combination of players with the right mix of batting and bowling and seam and spin,” he said, adding that the passion of Mumbai Indians supporters made the franchise a special environment to work in.
Williams also pointed to the encouraging progress of Indian women’s cricket, saying the national team’s performances on the international stage reflected a bright future for both the WPL and the sport in the country.
He wants Mumbai Indians to remain at the forefront of that growth by playing fearless, entertaining cricket that supporters can be proud of.
Asked about his strengths as a coach, Williams highlighted calmness and effective communication, saying he prioritised ensuring that players and support staff clearly understood their responsibilities and felt empowered to perform.
Looking ahead to the next season, scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027, Williams expressed his eagerness to meet Mumbai Indians supporters at the matches.
He described the fans as the heart and soul of the franchise and acknowledged their role in motivating the team and contributing to its success..
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