Royal Challengers Bengaluru received a massive lift on January 22 as seam all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar overcame a series of injuries to rejoin the squad before the WPL 2026 playoffs. This news has sent RCB supporters into a frenzy, enhancing the team’s playoff prospects significantly.
Smriti Mandhana’s RCB has dominated the tournament so far, clinching five straight wins and booking their playoff spot. The defending champions face Delhi Capitals next on Saturday at BCA Stadium, and Vastrakar’s inclusion promises to elevate their performance across formats.
The 2024 shoulder injury forced Vastrakar out of competitive cricket, leading to intensive rehab at BCCI’s Bengaluru facility. A subsequent hamstring issue postponed her WPL return, but she’s now fully fit and ready to unleash her skills.
The franchise welcomed her with an enthusiastic X post: ‘Welcome back, Pooja Vastrakar to the Reds! Bringing experience, grit, speed, and lower-order muscle. Back stronger post-injury, silencing the doubters. Twelfth Man Army salutes you in red, blue, and gold for a fresh chapter.’
After Mumbai Indians let her go, RCB invested Rs 85 lakh in her during the New Delhi mega auction last year. Vastrakar’s stellar stats include 58 T20I wickets from 72 games, 27 ODI wickets with 585 runs and four fifties in 33 matches, and 15 Test scalps in five outings.
Her WPL stint with MI yielded seven wickets and 126 runs in 16 games. As RCB eyes another trophy, Vastrakar’s pace, experience, and batting prowess position them as frontrunners. This comeback story underscores resilience in women’s cricket, setting the stage for playoff drama.