India’s seam-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar has recovered from injury and rejoined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad for the rest of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Thursday.

Vastrakar has been away from competitive cricket since late 2024 due to a shoulder injury. She completed her recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and was expected to join RCB before the start of the fourth WPL season. However, just two days before her release, she suffered a hamstring injury and had to spend more time at the CoE.

RCB welcomed her return with a message on X. “Starring in red ft. Pooja Vastrakar. Experience in her stride, strength in her run, pace in her hand, and power down the order. Back from injury and stronger than ever. 12th Man Army, welcome Pooja as she begins her next chapter in red, blue, and gold,” the 2024 champions wrote.

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𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ft. Pooja Vastrakar ❤️‍🔥

Experience in her stride, resilience in her run,
With pace in hand and power down the order, the job gets done. ⚡🏏

Back from injury, stronger than ever, proving the naysayers wrong! 👊

12th Man Army, welcome Pooja as she… pic.twitter.com/18LK6fFQal

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 22, 2026

When will Pooja Vastrakar return to action?

Earlier, IANS reported that Pooja Vastrakar reached Vadodara on Monday after getting clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). She was expected to join the RCB squad after their match against the Gujarat Giants.

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Pooja Vastrakar’s career and WPL record

Vastrakar was bought by RCB for ₹85 lakh in the mega auction held in New Delhi last year. She was released by defending champions Mumbai Indians before the auction.

The all-rounder has played 72 T20Is for India. She has taken 58 wickets at an economy rate of 6.39, with best figures of 4 for 13. She has also scored 332 runs in the format. In the WPL, Pooja has featured in 16 matches for the Mumbai Indians, picking up seven wickets and scoring 126 runs.

The Indian and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler, Pooja Vastrakar, will miss the first two weeks of the 2026 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as she picked up a hamstring injury. The franchise has already started its campaign against the Mumbai Indians, where they beat the defending champions in a thrilling last-over finish.

Back in November, when the franchise signed Vastrakar for a price of INR 85 lakh, RCB’s head coach, Malolan Rangarajan, commented that the bowler would change a lot of things for the franchise as far as the combinations are concerned. She was injured at the time of the auction as the WPL was anticipated to mark her comeback, having played her last competitive game in the T20 World Cup 2024.

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“I think two days before her release from the [BCCI's Centre of Excellence], she unfortunately tweaked her hamstring. The information we have at the moment is that she's going to need two more. It's a hamstring issue. She was there for her shoulder, and now it's a hamstring issue. So it's a week-by-week process. So let's see where she's at.” Rangarajan expressed at the post-match press conference.

RCB head coach gives update on Pooja Vastrakar

Vastrakar, who has picked up 58 wickets in 66 innings of the WT20Is at an average of 21.41 and an economy rate of 6.39 with a strike rate of 20.1, played his last competitive game in Sharjah against Australia during the T20 World Cup 2024.

“The value of all-rounders came to the fore. My blood pressure is okay. I've gotten used to this. I've been with RCB for six years. Very good to be on the winning side. Nadine was very clear with her plan for how she was going to approach the next 11 overs. That's the first time I met her inside [at the strategic time out] was over [number] nine.” Rangarajan noted on Nadine de Klerk’s knock.

The WPL 2024 champions will play their next encounter against the UP Warriorz on January 12 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

India started their Asia Cup campaign with a bang, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets in Dambulla on Friday. Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Match, led a disciplined bowling effort, taking 3-20 to restrict Pakistan to just 108 runs. Openers Smriti Mandhana (45 off 31) and Shafali Verma (40 off 29) then chased down the target with ease, launching India’s title defense in style.

Powerplay: India’s strong start

Nida Dar chose to bat first on a dry, batting friendly pitch, but Pakistan’s top order struggled against Pooja Vastrakar’s early strikes. In contrast, India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma went after the Pakistani bowlers, scoring at 9.5 runs per over in the first six overs. Pakistan managed only one double-digit over in their PowerPlay, with India’s pacers applying constant pressure in windy conditions.

Pakistan’s struggle: Vastrakar removes openers early

Pooja Vastrakar was in top form, removing both Pakistan openers in her PowerPlay overs. She used the short ball effectively, and despite a boundary off her first ball, she quickly took control. Pakistan’s top order couldn’t recover, managing only a few boundaries in the first six overs.

Spinners and Renuka Thakur keep Pakistan in check

India’s spinners took over, with Patil striking in her first over. Aliya Riaz fell to a leading edge, and with Harmanpreet Kaur also bowling spin, Pakistan crawled to 53/3 at the halfway mark. Vastrakar’s return added pressure, leading to the dismissal of Pakistan’s captain, Dar. Renuka Thakur then took two quick wickets in her final over, leaving Pakistan struggling.

Late counterattack curbed by off-spinners

Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana provided some resistance, adding 31 runs for the ninth wicket. Tuba was aggressive, hitting boundaries off Deepti, Vastrakar, and Shreyanka, but Deepti dismissed her soon after. A run-out and a quick wicket by Patil ended Pakistan’s innings at 108 with four balls left.

India’s chase

Verma’s blazing start

Pakistan started with spin, but Shafali Verma quickly punished Sadia Iqbal. Verma and Mandhana kept the score ticking with boundaries, racing to 57 runs in the PowerPlay. Verma’s aggressive batting set the tone, hitting Fatima Sana for consecutive boundaries.

Mandhana seals the deal

Nashra Sandhu provided brief respite with a tight over, but Mandhana’s onslaught on Tuba ended Pakistan’s hopes. Mandhana hit five boundaries in one over, reaching 45 before being dismissed. Verma also fell, but D Hemalatha maintained the momentum with quick boundaries. Despite Sandhu’s late strike, India easily completed the chase in the 15th over.

POTM

Deepti Sharma received the Player of the Match award for her outstanding performance with the ball, taking 3-20.

Women’s Asia Cup T20, 2024 – Group A: