Pooja Vastrakar

Pooja Vastrakar
Full name	Pooja Vastrakar
Born	25 September 1999 Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India
Nationality	Indian
Role	All-rounder
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium-fast
Teams	India, Madhya Pradesh, Supernovas, Mumbai Indians

Pooja Vastrakar (born 25 September 1999) is an Indian women’s international cricketer who plays as a fast-bowling all-rounder. Known for her athleticism, power-hitting, and pace bowling, she has been a key member of India’s white-ball squads and a regular performer in franchise cricket.

Early Life and Background

Pooja Vastrakar was born in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, and grew up in a modest household. She learned cricket by playing with boys in her neighborhood, initially focusing on batting. Her talent was noticed by coach Ashutosh Shrivastava, who guided her early development.

She faced significant personal and professional challenges, including the loss of her mother at a young age and a serious ACL knee injury in 2016. After surgery and rehabilitation, she made a strong comeback through domestic cricket.

Domestic Career

Vastrakar represents Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket. Her all-round performances in domestic tournaments and the Challenger Trophy helped her gain national recognition. She has been a consistent contributor with both bat and ball in India’s domestic structure.

International Career

Pooja Vastrakar made her international debut in February 2018 against South Africa in both ODIs and T20Is. She quickly established herself as a pace-bowling all-rounder capable of contributing in pressure situations.

She made her Test debut on 16 June 2021 against England. Vastrakar has represented India in major tournaments, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Her performance in the 2022 Women’s World Cup, where she scored crucial runs and took important wickets, was widely praised.

Franchise Cricket

In franchise cricket, Vastrakar has played for Supernovas in the Women’s T20 Challenge and Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League. She currently represents Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, where she contributes as a frontline pace all-rounder.

Playing Style

Pooja Vastrakar is known for her ability to generate pace and bounce with the ball and for her aggressive lower-order batting. Her athletic fielding further adds to her value as a modern all-rounder.

Impact and Outlook

Vastrakar’s journey from a small town in Madhya Pradesh to international cricket has made her a role model for aspiring women cricketers from non-metropolitan regions. With her improving fitness and experience, she is expected to remain an important part of India’s future plans, particularly in limited-overs formats.