UP Warriorz and Coach Jon Lewis End Three-Year Partnership After Tumultuous Seasons

Jon Lewis, the head coach of the UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League (WPL), has concluded his tenure with the franchise. The Warriorz announced the departure via a social media statement on Friday, June 27, marking the end of Lewis's three-year association with the team.

Jon Lewis departs UP Warriorz after a three-year stint. © BCCI

The former English fast bowler initially found success with the Warriorz during the inaugural WPL season. In 2023, he guided the team to a third-place finish, where they were eventually knocked out by the Mumbai Indians, who went on to win the championship.

However, the team's performance declined in the subsequent seasons of 2024 and 2025. They finished fourth in 2024 and ended up at the bottom of the table in 2025. The 2025 season was particularly challenging, with injuries to key players and Deepti Sharma taking over the captaincy. These factors contributed to inconsistency and a lack of team balance, resulting in a disappointing finish.

Despite the recent struggles, the Warriorz hold the record for the highest team total in WPL history. They scored 225 for 5 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru earlier this year, a match highlighted by Georgia Voll's unbeaten 99.

During his time with the Warriorz, Lewis also served as the head coach of the England Women's team, juggling dual roles. He was appointed as England's head coach in November 2022. However, 2025 proved to be a difficult year for Lewis, as he stepped down from his England role in March following the team's 16-0 defeat to Australia in the Women's Ashes.