Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were dealt an immediate setback at the start of their Women’s Premier League 2026 campaign as Indian all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar was ruled out with a fresh hamstring injury, just days before the season opener.
Her absence from the team sheet for RCB’s high-profile opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Friday raised eyebrows before confirmation emerged that the injury would sideline her for the early part of the tournament. For RCB, the timing could scarcely have been worse. Vastrakar was expected to play a central role in restoring balance to a side that has often struggled to combine pace bowling depth with lower-order hitting. Instead, the franchise now finds itself reworking plans barely hours into a long and demanding WPL season.
A Cruel Twist After a Long Road Back
The irony of the setback has not been lost on those closely following Vastrakar’s career. The 31-year-old had just come to the end of an extended rehabilitation program at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, where she had been based since late 2024 following major shoulder surgery. That injury had kept her out of competitive cricket for over a year, derailing what was meant to be a crucial phase in her career.
According to RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan, the hamstring issue occurred barely two days before she was due to be released from the CoE and join the RCB squad in full training. While her shoulder had responded well and she was cleared in that regard, the sudden muscle strain during the final stages of her workload progression forced the medical team to halt her return.
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“She was there for her shoulder and has now picked up a hamstring issue. It’s a week-by-week process,” Rangarajan said after RCB’s thrilling three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, a result that briefly softened the blow but did not mask the concern surrounding Vastrakar’s fitness.
RCB had invested heavily in Vastrakar at the mega-auction, securing her services for ₹85 lakh with a clear role in mind. At her best, she offers something few Indian players do: genuine pace with the ball and clean, powerful hitting down the order. Her ability to operate in the middle and death overs, while also contributing quick runs, makes her a tactical asset in the WPL format.
Without her, RCB lose flexibility. The balance between overseas and domestic players becomes tighter, bowling options in pressure overs are reduced, and the lower middle order lacks the same explosiveness. While South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk stepped up impressively in the opener, asking overseas players to repeatedly plug domestic gaps across a long tournament is rarely sustainable.
A Career Interrupted by Injuries
For Vastrakar herself, the latest injury adds another chapter to a career repeatedly interrupted by physical setbacks. Once spoken of as a natural successor to fast-bowling greats like Jhulan Goswami, her rise has been repeatedly slowed by serious injuries:
- ACL tears and major knee surgeries early in her career
- Persistent shoulder issues that ruled her out of much of the 2024–25 season
- Recurring hamstring strains, preventing her from building rhythm at international level
Each return has required rebuilding fitness and confidence, only for another setback to follow. While none of these injuries diminish her skill set, they have undeniably affected her continuity—something particularly costly for a fast-bowling all-rounder.
The Immediate Road Ahead
Current medical estimates suggest Vastrakar is likely to miss at least the first two weeks of WPL 2026. That window could stretch further depending on how her hamstring responds to rehabilitation, especially given her recent history and the need for caution. For RCB, the priority will be managing workload across their bowling unit while hoping to remain competitive through the middle phase of the tournament. For Vastrakar, the focus shifts once again to recovery, both physical and mental.
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Hamstring injuries, particularly in players returning from long layoffs, require careful load management. Any rushed comeback risks a recurrence that could derail not just a WPL season but also her broader international prospects as well.
Perhaps the biggest challenge now is psychological. Repeated injuries test even the most resilient athletes, and Vastrakar has faced more than her share. Yet, her perseverance through previous rehabilitation phases suggests she has the mental strength to endure another.
RCB will be hoping her return comes sooner rather than later. Indian cricket, meanwhile, will continue to watch closely, aware that when fit, Pooja Vastrakar remains one of the country’s rare multi-dimensional fast-bowling all-rounders.
For now, WPL 2026 begins without her, but the hope remains that the season does not pass her by entirely.
