Pooja Vastrakar is one of India’s rising stars in women’s cricket. She is known for her strong fast bowling and powerful batting. Her journey from a small town to playing for India is truly inspiring. Pooja worked very hard and faced many problems, but she never gave up. In this full biography, we’ll explore Pooja’s personal life, family background, career, age, height, boyfriend, and more — in simple and clear language.
Quick Info Table
| Full Name | Pooja Vastrakar |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 25, 1999 |
| Age | 25 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Height | 5 feet 6 inches (167 cm) |
| Profession | Cricketer (All-Rounder) |
| Batting Style | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm medium pace |
| Role in Team | Bowling all-rounder |
| Team(s) | India Women, Madhya Pradesh, MI (WPL) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Boyfriend | Not revealed publicly |
Early Life and Childhood
Pooja Vastrakar was born in a small city called Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. She belongs to a simple middle-class family. Her father, Devendra Vastrakar, worked for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). Pooja’s mother passed away when she was very young. Her father and siblings raised her with love and support.
From the age of 6, Pooja showed interest in cricket. She often played gully cricket with boys in her neighborhood. People were surprised to see a little girl bowling fast like a boy. Her talent was noticed early, but there were not many girls playing cricket in her area.
Pooja first trained under coach Ashutosh Shrivastava, who helped her polish her skills. She wanted to become a batter in the beginning, but her coach turned her into a fast bowler after seeing her strong arms and bowling style.
Even though her family didn’t have much money, they supported her cricket dream. Pooja used to travel far for training and sometimes practiced with second-hand kits.
Education
Pooja did her early schooling in Shahdol. She completed her education while also playing cricket. Her school and teachers supported her as she kept missing classes due to tournaments. She managed to study and play at the same time.
Though she didn’t go to a big city for higher studies, her focus remained strong on cricket. She knew her future was on the cricket ground.
Cricket Career – The Road to Success
Domestic Cricket and Early Journey
Pooja started her career by playing for the Madhya Pradesh women’s team. She was just 15 when she made her debut. She quickly became popular for her fast bowling and big hitting.
In junior cricket, she took many wickets and impressed everyone. Her performances helped her get selected in India’s Under-19 team, and later in India A.
International Debut
Pooja made her T20I debut for India in February 2018 against South Africa. Later, she made her ODI debut in the same series. People loved her energy and skills.
She became a strong all-rounder and helped India in many tight matches. Her ability to bowl fast and hit big shots in the lower order made her special.
Injury Setback and Comeback
In 2018, Pooja faced a big injury. She hurt her knee badly during training. It was a tough time for her as she had to stay away from cricket for many months. She also missed the 2018 ICC Women’s World T20 tournament.
But she didn’t let this stop her. She worked hard on recovery and trained every day. With support from her family and BCCI’s NCA team, she returned stronger.
In 2021, she came back to the Indian team and performed brilliantly in the one-off Test against England, where she showed great spirit and bowling.
Star in the 2022 Women’s World Cup
The 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand was a turning point. Pooja became India’s leading pace bowler and took crucial wickets. She also batted well in lower-order positions.
In a match against Pakistan, she played a match-winning knock when India was in trouble. Her all-round performance got praise from legends like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami.
Pooja finished the World Cup as one of the most valuable Indian players.
Women’s Premier League (WPL)
In 2023, Pooja Vastrakar was picked by Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for ₹1.9 crore. It was a huge moment in her career.
She became one of the most expensive Indian players in the auction. Playing under captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Pooja performed with energy and consistency. She took wickets and gave important runs with the bat.
Fans loved her aggression and big heart. Her WPL journey also gave her fame and financial support.
Playing Style and Strengths
Pooja is a bowling all-rounder. She bowls right-arm medium pace and can bowl at high speed. She troubles batters with bounce and swing.
She is also a power hitter. Batting in the lower order, she can score quick runs when the team needs them. Her six-hitting ability is a big plus.
Pooja is a good fielder too. She is fast on the field and often takes stunning catches.
Personal Life and Family Details
Pooja Vastrakar comes from a large family. Her father raised seven children alone after her mother passed away.
- Father: Devendra Vastrakar, retired from BHEL.
- Mother: Passed away during Pooja’s childhood.
- Siblings: Pooja has three brothers and three sisters. All of them supported her cricket dream.
She is very close to her family and often posts about them on social media. Despite fame, she stays humble and grounded.
Boyfriend and Relationship Status
As of now, Pooja Vastrakar is single. She has not shared anything about her boyfriend or love life in public.
She seems focused only on cricket. Her Instagram shows she spends most of her time practicing, training, or enjoying with teammates.
If she is in a relationship, she has kept it very private. But from what is known, she is currently not dating anyone and is unmarried.
Controversy
Pooja Vastrakar has no known controversies. She is very professional and disciplined on and off the field.
She respects senior players, teammates, and her coaches. Her attitude is always positive, and she avoids unnecessary attention.
This clean image makes her a role model for many young girls who want to become cricketers.
Achievements and Records
- Leading wicket-taker for India in 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup.
- Match-winning knocks in matches against Pakistan and New Zealand.
- One of the most expensive Indian picks in the WPL 2023 auction.
- Known for fastest 50 by an Indian lower-order batter in ODIs.
- Played a key role in India’s wins in many T20 and ODI matches.
Lifestyle and Net Worth
With her BCCI contracts, WPL salary, and endorsements, Pooja has a good lifestyle.
- Net Worth (2025): Estimated ₹3–4 crore INR.
- Major income sources: BCCI contract, match fees, WPL, brand deals.
- Car: Owns a personal vehicle and lives comfortably.
- Social Media: She has thousands of followers and is active on Instagram.
Pooja keeps her life simple and doesn’t show off her fame. She focuses more on fitness and game improvement.
