The pace bowling all-rounder from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Pooja Vastrakar has been prevented from playing for two weeks because of a hamstring injury. RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan gave the latest information about the Pooja Vastrakar injury on Friday, January 9, after the match against Mumbai Indians, which was the opening match for the team in the tournament.
What Happened to RCB All-Rounder Pooja Vastrakar Injury?
RCB opened their WPL 2026 season with an exciting win against Mumbai Indians on the last ball. Nadine de Klerk was the hero of the day with striking 63 runs in 44 balls and taking four wickets, however, the RCB all-rounder was ruled out of the season opener because of Pooja Vastrakar’s injury.
After the match, RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan gave an update on Pooja Vastrakar’s injury, stating that she is currently out with a hamstring issue and will not be able to play for at least two weeks.
“Pooja Vastrakar was not available for selection [against Mumbai Indians],” Malolan said after RCB’s first game of WPL 2026.
“She was in the CoE (Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru) for two weeks before her hamstring was unfortunately released. The news we have is that she will be there for two more weeks. Earlier, she was at the CoE for her shoulder, now she has a hamstring. It’s week by week now. Therefore, let’s keep watching where she is at,” he continued.
Pooja Vastrakar’s injury was a thing since October 2024.
Pooja Vastrakar’s last engagement in a competitive cricket match was on 13th October 2024 in the T20 World Cup where India faced Australia. She has not participated in any competitive cricket since then because of an injury. Pooja was absent from WPL 2025 and was also left out of the Women’s World Cup 2025 team. She was operated on for a shoulder injury last year and has been following her rehabilitation program at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
The pacer has been afflicted with hamstring problems which are only the latest among a long list of injuries that have plagued her throughout her career and which have kept her away from playing for a long time. RCB will be praying that Poosja’s recovery will be God’s way of helping as they need her badly to be one of the main players during the WPL 2026 season.
Pooja Vastrakar is still to confirm her return from Injury
There has not been a fixed date for Pooja Vastrakar yet, with RCB stating that the player’s reappearance will be subject to her response to rehabilitations. The all-rounder is now being treated for a hamstring problem and the team management says that he will be off the ground for at least two weeks.
RCB’s head coach Malolan Rangarajan suggested that Pooja Vastrakar’s injury is being evaluated on a week-by-week basis, particularly considering her past experience with injuries. She had just recently been approaching the end of her shoulder rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence when the hamstring problem struck, thus delaying her return to competition once again.
The cautious approach of RCB will surely not lead to a hasty return of her, as the prime objective is to make her WPL 2026 debut only when she is completely fit. As the situation is right now, Pooja Vastrakar’s return from her injury is going to be expected later during the tournament unless there are complications in the recovery process.
Pooja Vastrakar in WPL
Pooja Vastrakar represented the Mumbai Indians in the first two seasons of WPL. Overall, she has participated in 16 matches, taken part in 12 innings as a bowler, and has been a wicket-taker of seven.
With the bat, she scored 126 runs in 11 innings while consistently coming down the order to bat. Eventually, Mumbai Indians released her, and RCB acquired her for INR 85 lakh in the WPL 2026 auction.
