The Indian women’s cricket team has felt a distinct void in their pace bowling department recently, most notably during the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. While the team successfully clinched the 50-over World Cup in her absence, the unique balance that fast-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar brings to the squad remains irreplaceable. Out of action since late 2024 due to a severe shoulder injury that required surgical intervention, Vastrakar’s path back to fitness has been a grueling test of patience. However, elite sports rehabilitation is rarely a lonely journey. On the sidelines of the Madhya Pradesh Women’s T20 League, Vastrakar opened up about her intensive recovery period, shedding light on a crucial, behind-the-scenes mentorship with India’s premier men’s speedster, Jasprit Bumrah, at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
Pooja Vastrakar opens up on Jasprit Bumrah’s contribution during her rehab at the BCCI’s CoE
Vastrakar’s road to recovery hit several unexpected roadblocks. Initially, her medical team planned the shoulder surgery around a strict eight-month recovery window to ensure her readiness for major international fixtures. Unfortunately, structural healing does not always follow a calendar.
“We had planned the surgery in a way that I would have had eight months to recover, but that didn’t happen because even after eight months, I hadn’t got my range back. After being in these situations so many times, it doesn’t bother you anymore. You know how to deal with it,” Vastrakar told ESPNcricinfo.
During this extended stint at the CoE, Vastrakar found solace and wisdom in the presence of veteran international cricketers who frequent the facility for their own fitness maintenance. Engaging with seasoned India pacers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bumrah shifted her perspective on the physical toll of fast bowling. She noted that discussions at the CoE often revolved around the biomechanical anomaly of pace bowling, reinforcing that putting three to four times one’s body weight onto the landing leg is inherently punishing for the human body.
It was her deep conversations with “Boom Bhai” (Bumrah) that provided the ultimate mental breakthrough. Having navigated a career-threatening back stress fracture that culminated in surgery and a subsequent 11-month hiatus between 2022 and 2023, Bumrah was uniquely qualified to guide her through the dark phases of rehabilitation.
The power of perspective in elite sports rehabilitation
Bumrah shared his own struggles with Vastrakar, reminding her that spending a year and a half in a continuous cycle of injury, surgery, and rehab is an unfortunate reality of modern fast bowling. His advice was rooted in grounded pragmatism: injuries are inevitable, but control over one’s daily process is absolute. Reflecting on Bumrah’s comforting words, Vastrakar shared:
“I had a lot of conversations with Boom bhai [Bumrah] during that period. He explained, ‘If I look at my career, many similar things happened to me too. For a long time I have also been out, doing rehab for six months. Then I had surgery, so a year-and-a-half went into all this.’ He basically just said these things will keep happening; all you can do is focus on your process and whatever is in your control.”
This mentorship helped Vastrakar combat the psychological trap of dwelling on missed tournaments or anxious forecasting of her future form. By shifting her focus entirely back to the present moment, she was able to embrace the tedious daily routines of physiotherapy and strength training.
“It’s true that during such phases, we either dwell on the past or worry about the future. We forget to enjoy the present. And the present is what’s in our hands, the process is in our hands. And that very process becomes a huge part of success,” she added.
This psychological recalibration has not only aided her physical healing but has also matured her approach to the game. As she inches closer to her competitive return, the lessons absorbed from India’s pace spearhead will undoubtedly shape the next chapter of her international career.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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