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Defending champions Mumbai Indians have made a strategic appointment ahead of the , naming former Australian leg-spinner as their new spin bowling coach. The 41-year-old joins head coach Lisa Keightley, fast-bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, batting coach Devika Palshikar, and fielding coach Nicole Bolton in a revamped support staff aimed at securing a third title in four seasons. The fourth WPL edition kicks off on January 9, 2026, with MI facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. This move underscores MI’s commitment to blending international expertise with their signature winning culture as they prepare for a high-stakes campaign.
Mumbai Indians bring in Australia’s spin ace as bowling coach for WPL 2026
MI’s new spin bowling coach Kristen Beams carved out a notable international career for from 2014 to 2017, featuring in one Test, 30 ODIs where she claimed 42 wickets at an average of 22.45 including a best of 4/15, and 18 T20Is with 20 wickets at 16.60. She shone in the 2017 ODI World Cup, ending as the third-highest wicket-taker, and played 45 Women’s Big Bash League matches for Melbourne Stars. Transitioning seamlessly to coaching post-retirement, Beams has built an impressive resume, including roles in the WBBL and The Hundred, head coach of Australia’s Women’s Under-19 team, National Development Lead at Cricket Australia, and Community Cricket Manager-South at Cricket Tasmania.
In a video statement, Beams expressed excitement about her debut coaching stint with MI, highlighting the chance to collaborate with legend Goswami, whom she faced during her playing days. She praised the franchise’s “incredible culture” as a tight-knit family that consistently delivers victories, calling it the ideal environment for a new coach to thrive. Her leg-spin mastery and tactical acumen position her perfectly to nurture MI’s emerging spinners amid the WPL’s evolving demands for versatile bowling attacks.
“Incredible culture. They have developed a winning culture over a really long period of time but a family, that’s what you hear everyone talking about that this group is so tight-knit and it’s a family. It’s what you want to be a part of. I think, as a coach coming in, that’s exactly what you want to be able to do — walk into an environment that feels really tight-knit and a team that knows how to win,” she stated.
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New spin coach’s strategic impact on MI’s WPL 2026 campaign
Beams’ arrival strengthens MI’s spin department, vital on subcontinental pitches where wrist-spin often turns matches, complementing Goswami’s pace expertise for a balanced attack. With Keightley—fresh from Delhi Capitals—leading the side, this all-star coaching lineup blends Australian precision and Indian nous, targeting another championship run.
MI’s two titles from three WPL seasons reflect their dominance, and Beams’ global insights could elevate young talents like Saika Ishaque or uncapped prospects in the auction pool. As the January 9 opener looms, fans anticipate how her strategies will fortify the defending champs against fierce rivals like RCB and UP Warriorz. This appointment signals MI’s proactive blueprint for sustained success in women’s cricket’s premier T20 spectacle.
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This article was first published at , a Cricket Times company.
