Injury Blow For Royal Challengers Bengaluru As Star Pacer All Set To Miss Two Weeks

In what has come as a major blow to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chances of winning a second Women’s Premier League title, star medium-pacer Pooja Vastrakar will be out of action for two more weeks after

she injured her hamstring while recovering from an earlier injury.

Vastrakar, who last featured in a competitive game during the T20 World Cup in October 2024, was bought for Rs 85 lakh at the Women’s Premier League auction in November and was all set to make her comeback in the tournament.

Two more weeks of absence mean Vastrakar can only be available for RCB’s match against the Delhi Capitals on Saturday, January 24, in Kotambi.

“Pooja Vastrakar wasn’t available for selection (against Mumbai Indians). Two weeks before her release from the CoE (Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru), she unfortunately tweaked her hamstring,” RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan said while speaking at the post-match press conference.

“The information that we have is that she will be there for two more weeks. Earlier, she was there (at the CoE) for her shoulder; now she has a hamstring issue. It is a week-by-week process,” Rangarajan added.

Powered by an all-round show from Protea star Nadine de Klerk, RCB edged past defending champions Mumbai Indians by three wickets in a last-ball thriller on Friday.

De Klerk returned with excellent bowling figures of 4/26 and then blasted 63 off 44 to chase down a target of 155.

In Pooja’s absence, RCB entrusted the bowling duties to recruit England left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, along with Arundhati Reddy and de Klerk and the trio combined to restrict the opposition to 154/6.

“The value of all-rounders came to the fore. My blood pressure, everything is okay. I have gotten used to this. I have been with RCB for six years. Very good to be on the winning side,” Rangarajan said.

RCB will next take on the UP Warriorz on January 12 in Navi Mumbai.