Pooja Vastrakar Thanks RCB for Support During Recovery
India’s all-rounder, Pooja Vastrakar, shared how the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) supported her during a tough time filled with injuries. RCB selected her in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction even while she was healing from a shoulder injury.
Vastrakar suffered this injury during the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024 and went through surgery in March 2025. Unfortunately, this meant she missed the entire WPL 2025 season and was released by the Mumbai Indians despite being one of the top pace-bowling all-rounders in the nation.
When RCB acquired her for ₹85 lakh in the auction, they showed faith in her potential, even though her fitness was a concern. Vastrakar expressed her gratitude, noting that RCB did not pressure her to immediately start bowling. Instead, they encouraged her to focus on her batting skills and allowed her to gradually reintroduce bowling, which helped her regain confidence.
“They made it clear that it was fine if my bowling wasn’t up to par right away. They needed my batting, which reassured me a lot,” Vastrakar shared in an interview.
She added, “Everyone in the team, from Anya Shrubsole to our coach Malolan Rangarajan and Smriti Mandhana, understands the challenges of returning from injury since they’ve all been there.”
Overcoming Challenges
Vastrakar’s journey hasn’t been easy. Before her release from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, she injured her hamstring, which kept her out of action for the first two weeks of WPL 2026 with RCB. In her initial matches back, she didn’t bowl or bat.
Reflecting on these challenges, she acknowledged that they are part of cricket and help players learn how to cope with hurdles. Her main focus now is on fitness and improving her performance through dedicated effort.
“There are always ups and downs in cricket, but each challenge teaches you something valuable,” Vastrakar explained. “Right now, my priority is to take care of my body and stay fit, which will help my game.”
Looking Ahead with Hope
Vastrakar hasn’t played for India since their exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024. Since then, Kashvee Gautam has emerged as a fast-bowling all-rounder for India. She also missed out on India’s ODI World Cup win in 2025 and won’t participate in the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup.
Nevertheless, she remains positive. Vastrakar believes that by focusing on domestic cricket and consistently performing well, her chance to return to the national team will come.
“What happens with the national team isn’t in my control. What I can do is keep working hard and performing, regardless of the league I’m in,” she stated.
With eight years of experience and over 100 matches for India, Vastrakar has proven herself as a reliable player. Despite the challenges of the last few months, her goal is to get back on the field fully healthy, confident that her skills will be recognized once again.
This marks a hopeful chapter in Vastrakar’s career, as she prepares to continue her journey in cricket with determination and positivity.
