In a strategic move ahead of the Women’s Premier League 2026 season, the Mumbai Indians have appointed former Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams as their new spin bowling coach. The defending champions are keen to leverage Beams’ expertise to further enhance their performance in the upcoming tournament.
Beams expressed her delight at joining the MI squad, highlighting the team’s renowned family-like atmosphere and successful legacy. “It’s my first time as a coach here. It’s an incredible opportunity to work with someone like Jhulan Goswami,” she mentioned in a video shared by the team. Beams is eager to contribute to the team’s winning mentality and cohesive unit.
Beams brings a formidable background from her international playing days. She was a key bowler for Australia, notably finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup. Her comprehensive career involved Test, ODI, and T20I appearances, as well as significant contributions in the WBBL before her shift to coaching.
Her coaching achievements include guiding the Hobart Hurricanes to a WBBL title and coaching in The Hundred. Beams has also been involved in nurturing young talent as the head coach of the Australia women’s U19 team and holding developmental roles at the national cricket board. She will be a valuable asset to the existing MI coaching staff, which includes head coach Lisa Keightley.
The WPL 2026 season is slated to begin on January 9 and will run until February 5, with matches scheduled across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. The Mumbai Indians, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, will kick off their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.