WPL 2026 Update: RCB’s Pooja Vastrakar’s Hamstring Woes Extend Absence

India’s all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar will be sidelined from competitive cricket for at least two more weeks due to a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old from Madhya Pradesh has not played since 2024, having undergone shoulder surgery last year. Currently, she is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Vastrakar, a pace-bowling all-rounder, was scheduled to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs. 85 Lakh but missed the team’s opening match against Mumbai Indians. “Pooja Vastrakar is unavailable for selection. Unfortunately, two days before her scheduled release from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, she suffered a hamstring strain. Recovery will take another two weeks. She was initially there for her shoulder but now has a hamstring issue as well,” explained RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan following their exciting three-wicket victory over defending champions MI.

The hamstring injury adds to the pacer’s extensive list of physical setbacks, which have frequently kept her off the field. From ACL injuries to ongoing knee issues, Pooja, once considered the potential successor to Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey, has frequently missed out on major tournaments with the Indian women’s cricket team.

Published on January 10, 2026.