Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are set to receive a timely boost in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 campaign with India’s seam-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar cleared to join the squad after an extended injury layoff. The 26-year-old arrived in Vadodara on Monday after being given the green light by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE).
Vastrakar has not featured in competitive cricket since late 2024 after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2025, followed by a long rehabilitation phase in Bengaluru. While she was initially expected to link up with RCB ahead of the tournament, a hamstring injury suffered just two days before her scheduled release delayed her return and ruled her out of the Navi Mumbai leg of WPL 2026.
According to sources, Pooja will now join the RCB squad immediately after their ongoing fixture against Gujarat Giants and remain available for the rest of the tournament. “Pooja has received clearance from the CoE and has reached Vadodara. She will integrate with the team right after the current match,” a media source confirmed.
The all-rounder was snapped up by RCB for ₹85 lakh at the WPL mega auction in New Delhi last year, following her release from Mumbai Indians, with whom she had been part of their title-winning 2023 season. Her career, however, has been interrupted by multiple fitness setbacks, including ACL-related concerns and recurring knee issues, which have limited her availability in recent years.
Despite the injuries, Vastrakar remains a valuable asset. She has featured in 72 T20Is for India, picking up 58 wickets at an economy of 6.39, with best figures of 4/13, while also contributing 332 runs with the bat. In the WPL, she has played 16 matches, scoring 126 runs and taking seven wickets.
With RCB’s bowling unit already in strong form and the team on the brink of becoming the first side to qualify for the WPL 2026 playoffs, Pooja’s return could add further depth and balance as the business end of the tournament approaches.
