Pooja Vastrakar out of action for two weeks due to hamstring injury, says RCB head coach

India all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar is set to miss at least two more weeks of competitive cricket due to a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old Madhya Pradesh player has been out of action since 2024 due to a shoulder issue for which she had a surgery last year. She has been doing her rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The pace-bowling allrounder was all set to feature for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹85 lakh but did not feature for the side in its campaign opener against Mumbai Indians.

“Pooja Vastrakar is not available for selection. Two days prior to her release from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, she unfortunately tweaked her hamstring. It’s going to take two weeks more. She was there for her shoulder and has now picked up a hamstring issue,” said RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan told reporters after the side’s thrilling three-wicket win over defending champion MI.

The hamstring issue is the latest addition to a long list of injuries the pacer has suffered in her career which has kept her out of the field for long swathes of time. From ACL issues to recurring knee trouble, Pooja, once touted to be the successor to Jhulan Goswami and Shikha Pandey, found herself off the radar during crucial tournaments for the Indian women’s cricket team.