As the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 approaches, defending champions Mumbai Indians have bolstered their coaching setup by appointing former Australian leg-spinner Kristen Beams as their spin bowling coach. The announcement was made on December 29, 2025, just weeks before the tournament kicks off.
The fourth edition of the WPL is scheduled from January 9 to February 5, 2026, across venues in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. Mumbai Indians, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, will open their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on January 9 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Beams, now 41, represented Australia in one Test, 30 ODIs, and 18 T20Is between 2014 and 2017. She played a key role in Australia's campaigns, notably finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup. Domestically, she featured for Melbourne Stars in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) across several seasons.
After retiring from playing, Beams transitioned seamlessly into coaching. She has worked in the WBBL (including with title-winning Hobart Hurricanes recently), The Hundred in England, and served as head coach of Australia's Women's Under-19 team. Additionally, she held roles as National Development Lead at Cricket Australia and Community Cricket Manager (South) at Cricket Tasmania.
Beams will integrate into a strong support staff at Mumbai Indians, including head coach Lisa Keightley, bowling coach and mentor Jhulan Goswami, batting coach Devika Palshikar, and fielding coach Nicole Bolton.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Beams shared: "It's an incredible opportunity to work with someone like Jhulan Goswami, one of the greats of the game, somebody I played cricket against. They've developed a winning culture over a really long period of time, but it's a family—that's what everyone talks about, how tight-knit this group is. As a coach coming in, that's exactly what you want: an environment that feels connected and a team that knows how to win."
Mumbai Indians have dominated the WPL so far, winning two titles in three seasons (2023 and 2025). With Beams' expertise in leg-spin and her proven coaching track record, the franchise aims to sharpen their spin department and mount a strong title defense.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):
1. When does WPL 2026 start and what is Mumbai Indians' first match? The tournament begins on January 9, 2026, with Mumbai Indians facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Navi Mumbai. The final is on February 5 in Vadodara.
2. Who is Kristen Beams and what is her playing background? Kristen Beams is a former Australian leg-spinner who played 1 Test, 30 ODIs, and 18 T20Is from 2014-2017. She was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2017 Women's World Cup.
3. What coaching experience does Kristen Beams have? Beams has coached in the WBBL and The Hundred, served as head coach of Australia's U19 women's team, and held development roles at Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania.
4. Who are the other coaches in Mumbai Indians' WPL staff? The staff includes head coach Lisa Keightley, bowling coach/mentor Jhulan Goswami, batting coach Devika Palshikar, and fielding coach Nicole Bolton.
5. How many WPL titles have Mumbai Indians won? Mumbai Indians have won two titles—in the inaugural 2023 season and the 2025 season—making them the most successful team in the league's short history.
