Latest news with #UPWarriorz
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
She once borrowed shoes. Now she's donating spikes
BHOPAL: She's the youngest of six siblings. A class 8 dropout. A daughter of a dismissed policeman. A bowler with six English wickets and a nation watching. Cricketer Kranti Goud once bowled in hand-me-down shoes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Today, the 21-year-old Indian women's team star wants to equip budding girl cricketers with premium spiked shoes - free of cost. Her drive? To ensure no girl with talent is benched by poverty. Goud from Ghuwara, a tribal-majority village in MP's Chhatarpur district, has secured a sponsorship deal with an international shoe brand - her first personal milestone off the pitch. On it, she's already made headlines: a searing 6/52 against England, her first five-wicket haul in ODIs, helped India seal the recent series in the third match. Goud's rise from rural Bundelkhand to the national spotlight is a tale stitched with adversity. Her father Munna Singh, a former MP police constable, was dismissed in 2012 during election duty. The family had to vacate their official quarters and shift to a rented home. Eldest brother Mayank dropped out of school to work. "We were in a lot of trouble," he said. "There were days we didn't have proper meals. People mocked us for letting Kranti pursue cricket, but somehow we held on." Coach Rajiv Bilthare took her in at his Sai Cricket Academy in Chhatarpur in 2017. "She came in worn-out clothes and regular shoes," he said. "Her father was jobless. Her family had nothing. I didn't charge her any fees. I gave her shoes, uniform, and even bought her gear." One memory stands out. "I gave her Rs 1,600 to buy cricket spikes. She lit up. Said it felt like a dream," Bilthare said. That dream carried Goud to the national squad. She now wants to help others walk the path - one pair of spiked shoes at a time. "It's time for me to give back to society," she said. "I want to buy a house for my family. That's first. But I also want girls at our academy to play without worrying about money. My assistance will help them focus on the game." The right-arm medium-fast bowler made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka on May 11 and her T20 international debut against England on July 12. She represents MP in domestic cricket and plays for UP Warriorz in Women's Premier League (WPL).
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First Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Gautam Gambhir's former assistant Abhishek Nayar joins UP Warriorz as head coach
Nayar, a respected name in Indian cricket circles, had previously served as assistant coach with the Indian men's team as well as Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and also had a brief stint with UPW shortly after the first Women's Premier League season in 2023. read more Abhishek Nayar was presented with a special jersey by comedian Zakir Khan upon joining UP Warriorz as their head coach. Image credit: UP Warriorz Ahead of Season 4 of the Women's Premier League, the UP Warriorz have made a strong statement of intent, by appointing the decorated and experienced, Abhishek Nayar as their Head Coach. Nayar played a key role as assistant coach in helping Kolkata Knight Riders clinch the Indian Premier League title in 2024, and was also a part of the coaching set-up for Team India when they won the Champions Trophy earlier this year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The announcement was made in collaboration with renowned stand-up comedian Zakir Khan, who has been onboarded as the face of UP Warriorz fans, on social media. The intriguing announcement video was shot at Nayar's alma mater, Bombay Scottish school. A respected figure in the Indian cricket circles, Nayar brings with him a deep understanding of the game, a proven track record in player development, and years of experience across various coaching roles at both domestic and international levels. A former Indian international all-rounder and a key figure in Mumbai's domestic cricket setup, Nayar has seamlessly transitioned into one of the most influential coaches in the Indian cricketing ecosystem. His journey as a coach has been defined by his ability to mentor and nurture young talent and help top athletes push past their limits. This isn't Nayar's first time being associated with the UP Warriorz since he also spent a brief stint with the team during their off-season training camps post Season 1. The franchise is confident that him stepping into the head coach role will bring consistency and strength to the team's preparations. Nayar's expertise and ability as a coach is well documented and was seen in the IPL when he was the KKR Assistant Coach. Hailing from Mumbai, Nayar had been part of KKR since 2018 and has worked closely with players like Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh since their early years. In 2024, Nayar also served as the assistant coach of the Indian men's national team, where he worked under Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During his time with the Indian team, he worked closely with the top batters in the team, and KL Rahul personally credited Nayar for helping him regain his form in the T20 format. Among the other players he has worked with behind the scenes are also the likes of former India captain Rohit Sharma and former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik. Speaking on his appointment, Nayar expressed his excitement and said, 'I really enjoyed my time working with the UP Warriorz before and I'm thrilled to take on this new role. WPL is a fantastic platform for women's cricket and I'm looking forward to working closely with the management to build a strong team for Season 4. UP Warriorz already have a strong foundation in place, and I believe we can build something truly special. There is incredible potential and I will give it my all to help win their first-ever title this season' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jinisha Sharma, Director, Capri Sports, echoed the enthusiasm and stated, 'We believe that this appointment shows our strong intent to elevate the team's performance and push for greater success in the upcoming WPL season. With Abhishek Nayar's leadership, experience in coaching at the highest level and ability to bring out the best in players, the franchise is confident of a strong showing this season.' Kshemal Waingankar, COO, UP Warriorz, said, 'Abhishek Nayar is one of the best brains in the business in Global cricket, and we are delighted to have on our side as the Head Coach. We are excited about his vision for UP Warriorz, and we are confident that under his leadership, the team can provide its fans with many more memorable moments in the future.'
Canada News.Net
6 days ago
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
UP Warriorz appoints Abhishek Nayar as head coach ahead of WPL season
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 25 (ANI): Ahead of season four of the Women's Premier League (WPL), the UP Warriorz have made a strong statement of intent by appointing the decorated and experienced Abhishek Nayar as their head coach. Nayar played a key role as an assistant coach in helping Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clinch the Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2024 and was also part of the coaching setup for Team India when they won the Champions Trophy earlier this year. The Announcement was made in collaboration with renowned stand-up comedian Zakir Khan, who has been onboarded as the face of UP Warriorz fans on social media. The intriguing announcement video was shot at Abhishek Nayar's alma mater, Bombay Scottish School. A respected figure in Indian cricket circles, Nayar brings a deep understanding of the game, a proven track record in player development, and years of experience across various coaching roles at both domestic and international levels. A former Indian international all-rounder and a key figure in Mumbai's domestic cricket setup, Nayar has seamlessly transitioned into one of the most influential coaches in the Indian cricketing ecosystem. His journey as a coach has been defined by his ability to mentor and nurture young talent, helping top athletes push past their limits. This is not Nayar's first time being associated with the UP Warriorz since he also spent a brief stint with the team during their off-season training camps post-Season 1. The franchise is confident that his stepping into the head coach role will bring consistency and strength to the team's preparations. Nayar's expertise and ability as a coach are well documented and were seen in the IPL when he was the Assistant Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Hailing from Mumbai, Nayar had been part of KKR since 2018 and has worked closely with players like Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh since their early years. In 2024, Nayar also served as the assistant coach of the Indian men's national team, where he worked under Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. During his time with the Indian team, he worked closely with the top batters in the team, and KL Rahul personally credited Nayar for helping him regain his form in the T20 format. Among the other players he has worked with behind the scenes are also the likes of former India captain Rohit Sharma and former India wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik. Speaking on his appointment, Abhishek Nayar expressed his excitement and said, 'I really enjoyed my time working with the UP Warriorz before, and I'm thrilled to take on this new role. WPL is a fantastic platform for women's cricket, and I'm looking forward to working closely with the management to build a strong team for Season 4. UP Warriorz already have a strong foundation in place, and I believe we can build something truly special. There is incredible potential, and I will give it my all to help win their first-ever title this season' Jinisha Sharma, Director, Capri Sports, echoed the enthusiasm and stated, 'We believe that this appointment shows our strong intent to elevate the team's performance and push for greater success in the upcoming WPL season. With Abhishek Nayar's leadership, experience in coaching at the highest level and ability to bring out the best in players, the franchise is confident of a strong showing this season.' Kshemal Waingankar, COO, UP Warriorz, said, 'Abhishek Nayar is one of the best brains in the business in Global cricket, and we are delighted to have on our side as the Head Coach. We are excited about his vision for UP Warriorz, and we are confident that under his leadership, the team can provide its fans with many more memorable moments in the future.' (ANI)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'I believe in overcoming challenges': Abhishek Nayar on becoming new UP Warriorz head coach
Mumbai : has moved to his next challenge in coaching life - and this time something totally different, considering his coaching resume so far. On Friday, the former India assistant coach, who is currently also the assistant coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders (2024 IPL champions), was named as the head coach of the Lucknow-based UP Warriorz - one of the five teams in the Women's Premier League. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nayar is also the mentor of the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals, the winners of T20 Mumbai League this year. He has also been a mentor & motivator to some of the top batters in India cricket-India's ODI captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Dinesh Karthik, who have credited Nayar with helping them transform their game. In an exclusive interview with TOI soon after his appointment for the job, Nayar, a former India and Mumbai all-rounder shares his vision for the Lucknow-based side and what he can bring to the table, especially in the light of his vast coaching experience. Excerpts This will be your first stint as head coach in a women's franchise league. What was it about the UP Warriorz project that made you say yes? You've played several roles across Indian cricket—what makes this one stand out? Well, I've been involved with them (in the past) in a very small capacity with regard to helping them with camps etc, so I just felt connected to the franchise anyways. When a team like UP Warriorz, with big ambitions but no title yet, comes calling—how do you approach that challenge as a coach? Is the title the benchmark, or is the process the priority? I like to keep things simple. I don't believe in expectations. I believe in overcoming challenges and winning a (WPL) trophy is going to be a challenge, so I'm hoping as a team collectively, we can overcome that challenge. You're taking over from Jon Lewis, who brought a strong international pedigree to the role. How do you plan to build on that foundation, while bringing in your own coaching ethos? Jon and I have worked together in a few camps and I enjoyed working with him and learnt a few things about coaching women cricketers. Every coach has his style and I have mine. Hopefully, the girls respond to my style and we can put up a good show. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik to KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, you've had a massive influence on many players' growth. What's the core of your coaching philosophy—and how will that translate into a franchise environment like the WPL? My coaching philosophy is simple: Serve the player and create an environment of high performance. I will try to stick to that, and then leave the rest to what's meant to be. How closely have you followed the evolution of women's cricket in India, especially since the WPL began? What excites you most about this ecosystem? I've commentated quite a bit on women's cricket and have been involved with the England women's team thanks to Jon Lewis (former England & UP Warriorz head coach) in running camps, so I have a fair idea with what's going on. Poll Do you believe that Abhishek Nayar can lead the UP Warriorz to their first WPL title? Yes, he has the experience No, it's too early to tell You've been involved in three title-winning campaigns in just the past 18 months—across different teams and formats. How have those experiences shaped your leadership style ahead of this new journey? Well, it's been an exciting 18 months for me as a coach. I had a rocky start, but along the way, the failure kind of taught me what it takes to succeed. Now, coaching involves a fair bit of luck and a lot of hard work. I won't fall short on the hard work and preparation bit. Hopefully, we have some luck going our way. You've often worked behind the scenes as a mentor, tactician, and motivator. Now as the front-facing head coach, how do you see your role evolving? Will your approach change at all? (Laughs). Well, a head coach is also behind the scenes. The sport is always about the players, never about a coach. I was, and will remain behind the scenes while the players (rightfully) take the centre-stage. You're a proud product of Mumbai cricket, where resilience and that 'khadoos' spirit is part of the DNA. Do you see yourself bringing that mindset into the UP Warriorz setup? Nope. I believe in trying to enhance a player's DNA for them to perform at a level higher than normal, which in turn serves the team's purpose, goal and vision. What I did and how I played has and never will be something I'll try and inculcate in the players. It's too short a time to do so. But hopefully, providing a structure and direction can create that outlook.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
UP Warriorz appoint Abhishek Nayar as head coach
Nayar, who represented Mumbai with distinction in first-class cricket, also played three ODIs for India before his retirement in 2019. Since then, he has made a name for himself in coaching and was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders support staff as their assistant coach during their triumphant IPL campaign in 2024. Several high-profile cricketers such as Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul have spoken about the positive turn that Nayar allegedly brought about in their game. He has also served as the coach of the KKR Academy in 2018 and was the head coach of the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League in 2022. Nayar was appointed as the Indian men's team's assistant coach after Gautam Gambhir became its head coach and was part of the team that won the Champions Trophy in the UAE earlier this year. However, his contract was allegedly terminated after that, and he returned as KKR's assistant coach for IPL 2025. Jinisha Sharma, director at Capri Sports, which owns the franchise, said, "We believe that this appointment shows our strong intent to elevate the team's performance and push for greater success in the upcoming WPL season. With Abhishek Nayar's leadership, experience in coaching at the highest level and ability to bring out the best in players, the franchise is confident of a strong showing this season." Kshemal Waingankar, COO, UP Warriorz, said, "Abhishek Nayar is one of the best brains in the business in global cricket, and we are delighted to have him on our side as the head coach. We are excited about his vision for UP Warriorz, and we are confident that under his leadership, the team can provide its fans with many more memorable moments in the future."
