In a significant coaching overhaul, MI London has unveiled its leadership for the upcoming 2026 season of The Hundred, tapping into a wealth of cricketing experience with the appointments of Kieron Pollard and Lisa Keightley. Pollard will take the helm of the men's squad, while Keightley will guide the women's team. These selections underscore MI London's commitment to cultivating a winning culture, leveraging the deep connections both individuals have within the global cricket landscape and their proven capabilities in high-stakes environments. The franchise, formerly known as Oval Invincibles, is keen to build on its rich history of success under this new strategic direction.
Cricket Stalwarts Assume Key Coaching Roles at MI London
On Friday, January 16, 2026, MI London officially confirmed the appointments of Kieron Pollard and Lisa Keightley as the head coaches for their respective men's and women's teams for the highly anticipated 2026 season of The Hundred. This announcement, made by the franchise now under the ownership of Reliance Industries Limited, signals a fresh chapter for the London-based side.
Kieron Pollard, the esteemed former West Indies all-rounder, brings a profound connection to the Mumbai Indians global network. His career includes extensive play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for MI, along with appearances for their affiliated teams in Major League Cricket, SA20, and ILT20. Notably, Pollard previously served as an assistant coach for England's men's team during the 2024 T20 World Cup and is currently the batting coach for MI in the IPL. The 38-year-old Trinidadian holds the record for the most domestic T20 matches played, with over 730 appearances, in addition to representing West Indies in 101 T20 internationals. His prior experience in The Hundred includes stints with London Spirit and Southern Brave, as well as playing for Surrey in The Blast. Expressing his enthusiasm, Pollard highlighted this as an "exciting opportunity" to assemble a formidable team and cultivate a "high-performance culture" within the Oval-based franchise. He remarked on the strong synergy between Surrey's cricketing philosophy and the Mumbai Indians' victorious spirit, having witnessed it firsthand.
Lisa Keightley, a distinguished former Australian international, steps into the role of women's team coach for MI London. Her coaching pedigree includes leading the Northern Superchargers (now Sunrisers Leeds) to the women's title in The Hundred in 2025. The 54-year-old currently serves as head coach for MI's team in the Women's Premier League and for Sydney Thunder in the Women's Big Bash League. Keightley's illustrious playing career saw her represent Australia in nine Tests and 82 One-Day Internationals, followed by coaching positions for the national teams of both Australia and England. Reflecting on her new role, Keightley expressed her anticipation for the journey and the fresh challenge, following her success in the previous Hundred season.
MI London, formerly known as Oval Invincibles, underwent a name change after Reliance Industries Limited acquired a 49% stake in the franchise. This investment has been a catalyst for the team, which has historically produced five title-winning squads in The Hundred. Last year, the Oval Invincibles men's and women's teams were coached by Tom Moody and Jonathan Batty, respectively.
The strategic appointments of Pollard and Keightley signal MI London's strong intent to dominate the upcoming season of The Hundred. Their combined experience, leadership, and deep understanding of T20 cricket are expected to inspire both teams to reach new heights and continue the franchise's legacy of excellence.
The strategic appointments of these seasoned cricket professionals underscore the evolving landscape of T20 franchise cricket, where proven leadership and a winning mentality are paramount. For fans and analysts alike, these coaching choices suggest a concerted effort by MI London to not only achieve sporting success but also to build a sustainable, high-performance environment that resonates with the Mumbai Indians' global brand. It will be fascinating to observe how Pollard and Keightley leverage their extensive experience and distinct coaching philosophies to shape their respective teams and contribute to the vibrant spectacle of The Hundred in 2026.