Jon Lewis Exit: UP Warriorz Seek New Coach After Disappointing WPL Season

Jon Lewis, former English fast bowler, has ended his time as head coach of the UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League (WPL). The franchise announced his departure via a social media post on Friday, June 27, marking the end of a three-year association.

Jon Lewis departs from UP Warriorz after three years. © BCCI

Lewis experienced initial success with the Warriorz during the inaugural WPL season. In 2023, he guided the team to a third-place finish, before they were knocked out by the Mumbai Indians, who ultimately won the championship.

However, the team's performance declined in the subsequent seasons. In 2024, they finished fourth, and in 2025, they ended up at the bottom of the table. The UPW faced challenges throughout the 2025 season, including injuries to key players and a change in captaincy with Deepti Sharma taking over. These factors contributed to inconsistency and a lack of team balance, resulting in a disappointing finish.

Despite the setbacks, the Warriorz achieved a significant milestone during Lewis's tenure. They set the record for the highest total in WPL history, scoring 225 for 5 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, earlier this year, with Georgia Voll's impressive unbeaten 99 being the highlight of the innings.

Notably, Lewis held a dual role during his time with the Warriorz, also serving as the head coach of the England Women's team since November 2022. However, 2025 proved to be a challenging year for Lewis. He resigned from his position with England in March, following the team's 16-0 defeat to Australia in the Women's Ashes.