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Pooja Vastrakar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 September 1999

Age25 Years

BirthplaceShahdol, Madhya Pradesh

ProfessionCricketer (Batsman/Bowler)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Bandhan Ram Vastrakar; Mother - Name not known; Siblings - 2 brothers, 4 sisters (one elder sister Usha Vastrakar is a national-level sprinter)

Pooja Vastrakar Biography

Pooja Vastrakar is an Indian bowling all-rounder who has represented India across formats. Hailing from Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, she progressed from street

Early life and background

Pooja Vastrakar was born on 25 September 1999 in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. She grew up in a large family with two brothers and four sisters; her father is Bandhan Ram Vastrakar. One of her elder sisters, Usha Vastrakar, has competed as a national-level sprinter. Pooja attended Gyanodya Higher Secondary School in Shahdol.

Cricket entered her life through informal games in the neighbourhood. As a child she often played gully cricket with boys and practised with improvised equipment when a proper bat was not available. Her performances in local games drew the attention of a local coach, Ashutosh Shrivastava, who brought her into his Gulmohar Cricket Academy — an all-boys facility where she trained alongside male players.

Pooja lost her mother when she was about 10 years old. The bereavement caused her to stop attending the academy for a period, but she returned after encouragement from her coach and family. Initially inclined toward batting, an early injury to her left ring finger led to an opportunity to try bowling; that experience helped define her as a bowling all-rounder.

Career

Vastrakar made rapid progress through domestic cricket. She debuted in major domestic Twenty20 cricket on 9 March 2013 against Odisha. By 14 she had been selected for Madhya Pradesh’s senior team and later represented neighbouring Rewa division and Central Zone when Shahdol did not yet have its own division. At 15 she was selected for the India Green Women squad.

Her domestic career has included stints with Madhya Pradesh Women, India Green Women, Supernovas and Mumbai Indians in franchise cricket. She has been coached and mentored by Ashutosh Shrivastava throughout much of her early development.

Injuries and recovery have been part of her journey. She experienced a series of setbacks, including a lower back issue in 2016, an ankle sprain, and a serious knee injury — an anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained while fielding in a domestic one-day match — which required surgery and time away from the game. After rehabilitation she returned with increased pace, with reported bowling speeds rising from about 105 km/h to over 110 km/h.

International breakthrough and highlights

Vastrakar made her international debut in February 2018, appearing in One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals against South Africa at Potchefstroom. Her Test debut came in June 2021 against England at Bristol.

She was part of India’s squads for major global tournaments: named for the 2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 but withdrawn after an injury in a warm-up game; selected for the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia; included in the India Test squad in 2021; and named in India’s team for the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

At the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand she played a pivotal role in India’s win over Pakistan at Mount Maunganui on 6 March, earning Player of the Match for an unbeaten 67 while batting at number eight. That innings formed part of several record partnerships and milestones she achieved in ODIs and T20s, including high-scoring lower-order knocks and notable tenth-wicket stands. In the same tournament she took four wickets in the match against New Zealand at Hamilton and executed a remarkable one-handed run-out dismissal of Suzie Bates. She also struck an 81-metre six later in the competition.

Playing style and recognition

Pooja bats right-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace. She is known as a bowling all-rounder who can contribute valuable lower-order runs. Team-mates and coaches have praised her fighting spirit and athleticism; fielding coach Biju George has given her the nickname Babulal, while senior players have compared aspects of her ball-collecting and throwing to the style of Hardik Pandya.

Records and notable achievements

Vastrakar has several distinctive records for lower-order batting in women’s internationals: high scores batting at number eight and lower, involvement in record seventh-wicket or lower partnerships in Women’s World Cups, and being among the first batters to post multiple fifty-plus scores from number eight or lower. In T20 internationals she has also been part of strong lower-order performances, including a significant tenth-wicket partnership on Australia tour in 2021.

Public profile

Pooja’s journey from playing with boys in Shahdol to international cricket has been a recurring part of her public story. She has spoken about the influence of role models such as Jhulan Goswami and the motivational resources she turned to during rehabilitation. Her nicknames within the team include Chhoti, Chota Hardik, Babloo and Babulal. She has been open about her upbringing, training in an all-boys academy, and the challenges of injuries and recovery.

Latest updates

As of 2022, Pooja remained an active member of India’s national setup, contributing with both ball and bat at the Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand and achieving Player of the Match honours in India's win over Pakistan. Her development continued after surgery and rehab, with notable improvements in bowling speed and impact performances in international tournaments.
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Recent Work

IND Women vs PAK Women at Mount Maunganui — ICC Women’s World Cup

Player of the Match for an unbeaten 67 batting at number eight; part of record lower-order partnerships and milestones.

2022
IND Women vs NZ Women at Hamilton — ICC Women’s World Cup

Took four wickets and effected a one-handed run-out of Suzie Bates during the match.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Made international debut in February 2018 (ODI and T20)
  2. Test debut in June 2021 against England
  3. Player of the Match in India vs Pakistan, ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 (67* at No.8)
  4. Four-wicket haul vs New Zealand, ICC Women’s World Cup 2022; remarkable one-handed fielding dismissal
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pooja Vastrakar born?

25 September 1999

What is Pooja Vastrakar known for?

Cricketer (Batsman/Bowler)

What is Pooja Vastrakar’s marital status?

Unmarried