India all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs. 85 lakh at the WPL Auction 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday after a brief bidding tussle with UP Warriorz.

The pace-bowling all-rounder, who has been sidelined for an extended period due to injury, attracted interest despite her long layoff, with former champion RCB ultimately securing her services.

Vastrakar missed the previous WPL season after suffering a stress injury in the aftermath of the last T20 World Cup in the UAE and has not played for India for over a year.

Her last international appearance came against Australia at that tournament, and she was not part of India’s ODI World Cup-winning squad in 2025. Currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, the 26-year-old will be aiming for a full return to fitness ahead of the new WPL season.

In the WPL, Vastrakar previously represented Mumbai Indians in the first two editions, including its title-winning campaign. Across 16 matches, she has scored 126 runs and taken seven wickets.

Published on Nov 27, 2025