Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) started their Women’s Premier League 2026 (WPL 2026) campaign with a dramatic win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, but the celebrations got a big hit due to an injury on Friday, January 9.
RCB’s plans after a thrilling three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Women’s Premier League 2026 opener on Friday, January 9, suffered a major blow as their star all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar has been ruled out for the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Pooja Vastrakar bows out after RCB’s dream start in Women’s Premier League 2026
Pooja was not a part of the playing eleven in RCB’s thrilling last over against Mumbai Indians. Just two weeks before he was to get the nod from the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, the Indian all-rounder suffered a new setback. She was already undergoing rehabilitation for a shoulder problem when a fresh hamstring problem cropped up, forcing her to miss a few matches of the WPL 2026.
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Royal Challengers Bangalore head coach Malolan Rangarajan shared this update on Pooja on Friday and he stressed that the team management is closely monitoring her recovery on a week-by-week basis, and she will not be rushed into participating in the tournament.
RCB coach shares update on Pooja Vastrakar’s fitness
“Pooja Vastrakar was not available for selection,” Malolan Rangarajan said after the WPL 2026 clash. [against Mumbai Indians]Two weeks before his release from the COE (Center of Excellence in Bengaluru), he unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury,
The information we have is that she will be there for the next two weeks. she was there before [at the CoE] For his shoulder; Now he has hamstring problem. It’s a week-by-week process. So let’s see where he is.”
Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana-led RCB showed strong character against Harmanpreet Singh’s Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the tournament.
Nadine de Klerk was the hero of the night as she played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 63 off 44 balls, helping RCB chase down the target of 155 in the last over and seal a thrilling last-ball win over MI in Navi Mumbai. With this win, RCB earned two important points and took a huge lead in the tournament.
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Mumbai Indians wobble without Hayley Mathews in WPL 2026 opener
Defending champions, MI, on the other hand, had a forgettable night. They were without their big match-winner Hayley Mathews and the team missed her against RCB. The West Indies all-rounder was unavailable for the WPL 2026 opener as she was recovering from a shoulder injury.
Hayley suffered the injury after suffering a minor strain during training. Although he is very close to full fitness, the team decided not to risk him in the opening encounter.
With the medical team monitoring his condition carefully, Mumbai Indians are hopeful that Hayley will be available for their second match against last season’s runners-up Delhi Capitals on January 10 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, as the defending champions will be keen to bounce back in the tournament after a crushing defeat against RCB.