Reports: Pooja Vastrakar set to join India squad for CWG after recovering from COVID-19

India women’s cricket team has received a major boost after their three-wicket defeat to Australia as star pacer Pooja Vastrakar is reportedly set to join the squad after making a full recovery from COVID-19. The reports state that the emerging cricketer has returned a negative test and is all set to be available for selection for India’s final Commonwealth Games 2022 group encounter against Barbados on Wednesday, August 3.

Vastrakar and her India teammate S Meghana had tested positive for coronavirus after the Indian team had left for Birmingham last week to participate in CWG 2022. The bowling all-rounder who was quarantined in Bengaluru is now set to take part in the quadrennial sporting event. “Pooja Vastrakar will join the Indian team in Birmingham, and she will be available for the final group game against Barbados on August 3.”

🏃‍♀️ towards Commonwealth Games like!

Pooja Vastrakar will join Indian team in Birmingham, and she will be available for the final group game against Barbados on August 3.#B2022 pic.twitter.com/lznfNsqjtc

— Women’s CricZone #B2022 (@WomensCricZone) July 31, 2022

Both S Meghana and Pooja Vastrakar have tested negative for COVID-19 now

Last Thursday, i.e. July 28, Meghana got her boarding pass to England for the Commonwealth Games 2022 after she came out with a negative COVID-19 test result. Even she is set to participate in the quadrennial sporting tournament just like Pooja Vastrakar.

The virus had forced both Pooja and Meghana to miss the first two group fixtures against the reigning T20 world champions Australia and the ongoing clash against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Coming back to the competition, after losing to the Aussies in the curtain-raiser, the Indian eves need to win both their remaining fixtures against Pakistan and Barbados by bigger margins in order to qualify for the semifinals and also to keep their medal hopes alive.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side are currently locking horns with Bismah Maroof’s Pakistan in their second Group A fixture which is a must-win encounter for both sides. Pakistan called it right at the toss and elected to bat first. They come into this clash after a 15-run defeat against Barbados in their opening game.