Defending champions Mumbai Indians have announced the appointment of former Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams as their spin-bowling coach for the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. The franchise made this announcement on Monday. Beams, who has played one Test, 30 One Day Internationals (ODIs), 18 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), and 45 matches in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), will collaborate with MI head coach Lisa Keightley, mentor Jhulan Goswami, batting coach Devika Palshikar, and fielding coach Nicole Bolton. Beams was a pivotal figure in Australia’s World Cup successes, notably finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker at the 2017 ODI World Cup.
At 41 years old, Beams brings a wealth of experience, having served as a coach in the WBBL and The Hundred. She has also held positions as the coach of the Australia Women’s U19 team, the National Development Lead at Cricket Australia, and Community Cricket Manager for the South region at Cricket Tasmania.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Beams stated, “It’s an incredible opportunity to work with someone like Jhulan Goswami, one of the greats of the game, someone I played cricket against. (It’s an) incredible culture… that they’ve developed a winning culture over a really long period of time, but a family that’s what you hear everyone talk about that this group is so tight-knit, and it’s a family and it’s what you want to be a part of.” She emphasized how important it is for a new coach to enter an environment that feels cohesive and successful.
The Mumbai Indians stand as the most successful franchise in WPL history, clinching victory in two out of the three seasons held so far. The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, defeated the Delhi Capitals on both occasions to secure the championship.
The 2026 WPL season is set to commence on January 9, with the Mumbai Indians facing off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match. This year’s tournament will span 28 days, taking place across two venues in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/mumbai-indians-appoint-kristen-beams-spin-bowling-coach-wpl-2026-10445610/
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Publish Date: 2025-12-30 00:44:00
