.jpg?type=hq)
India Women's Team (Source: AFP)
In a significant development, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women’s cricket team is set to get a new strength and conditioning coach. The former England first-class cricketer Nicholas Lee is reportedly taking over the role after the conclusion of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026).
According to news agency PTI, Lee will officially join the national setup once the WPL ends on February 5 in Vadodara.
This move comes at an important time for Indian women’s cricket, with the team preparing for a packed international schedule and the T20 World Cup 2026 later in the year.
The BCCI appears keen to strengthen the team's fitness programme by bringing in someone with strong international experience.
Experienced Englishman to take charge after WPL ends
The WPL 2026 is scheduled to begin on January 9 and will be played across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. Lee is expected to link up with the Indian women's team immediately after the tournament ends.
“Lee will take over as the new strength and conditioning coach of the Indian women’s cricket team after the WPL,” a source told PTI.
Until now, India’s conditioning programme has largely been managed through domestic systems and the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. The appointment of Lee signals a clear shift towards adopting global practices in fitness and injury management.
Who is Nicholas Lee?
Nicholas Lee is a former England first-class cricketer. He has played 13 matches and scored 490 runs. After his playing career, he built a strong reputation as a fitness and physical performance expert.
It is important to mention that Lee was most recently the strength and conditioning coach of the Gulf Giants during the fourth season of the ILT20.
Before that, he has worked as Afghanistan men's team strength and conditioning coach coach from January 2024 to December 2025. He also served as head of physical performance at the Bangladesh Cricket Board for nearly four years.
Earlier in his career, Lee worked with Sri Lanka's team between 2016 and 2020 and spent several years with Sussex County Cricket Club in England.
Bringing in someone with such wide-ranging experience could play a key role in helping India maintain high fitness standards as they aim for success in the T20 World Cup 2026.
India women prepare for tough Australia tour
After the WPL, India Women will tour Australia for a multi-format series from February 15 to March 9. The tour will include three T20Is, three ODIs, and a day-night Test match in Perth.
The T20I series will start at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 15, followed by matches in Canberra and Adelaide.
The ODI series will begin on February 24, with games scheduled in Brisbane and Hobart. The tour will end with a pink-ball Test, which begins on March 6.
With such a challenging schedule, Nicholas Lee's role will be crucial in ensuring players remain fit and fresh.
.jpg)
.png?type=mq "J&K Police springs into actio")
