Despite her long layoff due to a shoulder surgery, which also led her to miss WPL 2025 season for eventual champions Mumbai Indians, Pooja found significant interest in last month\u2019s mega auction, and eventually RCB roped her in for Rs 85 lakh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As of now, Pooja is in rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and is expected to be fit for WPL 2026, to be played from January 9 to February 5 in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe way RCB has collected and selected players gives them great flexibility. Based on pitch conditions, form, or injuries, they can make tactical changes, whether it\u2019s choosing between Grace Harris or Lauren Bell depending on the opposition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you look at Indian fast-bowling all-rounders, Pooja Vastrakar stands out because she brings a quality of batting that others\u2014like Renuka Singh Thakur, Shikha Pandey, Arundhati Reddy, or Kranti Gaud, do not offer at the same level. She is a rare commodity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYes, she has had injury concerns, but there\u2019s only one Pooja Vastrakar in the country. That\u2019s exactly why we saw a bidding war for her. UP Warriorz were very interested, but RCB knew what they wanted, and they secured her. In my opinion, it\u2019s a tremendous addition,\u201d said Chopra on JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Saba Karim, the former India wicketkeeper-batter and national selector, believes the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB have a well-balanced look due to the plethora of all-rounders in their line-up. \u201cI felt that RCB clearly leaned towards all-rounders this time, which is why you see so many in their line-up, starting from Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Grace Harris, and Pooja Vastrakar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYes, she has had injury concerns, but there\u2019s only one Pooja Vastrakar in the country. That\u2019s exactly why we saw a bidding war for her. UP Warriorz were very interested, but RCB knew what they wanted, and they secured her. In my opinion, it\u2019s a tremendous addition,\u201d said Chopra on JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey will play matches in Navi Mumbai before going to Vadodara, and I believe the kind of wickets they will get there will complement this combination. Overall, this squad looks well-balanced for RCB,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n