Pooja Vastrakar's deleted Instagram post on PM Narendra Modi and BJP leaders goes viral
A deleted Instagram post by Indian women's cricketer Pooja Vastrakar, mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some big leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has gone viral on social media.
The 24-year-old Vastrakar is considered among the most promising players in the current Indian Women's set up. She recently represented Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League 2024.
On Friday, March 29, Vastrakar found herself in the news for non-cricket reasons. An Instagram story was shared from her handle, and the post mocked PM Modi and a few other members of the BJP party.
There were mixed reactions to the player's controversial social media post. While some hailed her for boldly sharing her views, a few criticized her and even called for her sacking from the Indian team.
Others took a dig at the bowling all-rounder over the deleted post and claimed that she will now say that her account was hacked.
Pooja Vastrakar's performance in WPL 2024
Vastrakar had a disappointing season for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2024. She played nine games in the women's T20 league but only managed five wickets.
The right-arm pacer went wicketless in the first three games before registering figures of 2-14 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru. Vastrakar claimed the wickets of Richa Ghosh (7) and Sophie Molineux (12) as Mumbai Indians thumped RCB by seven wickets, chasing down a target of 132 with ease.
Vastrakar claimed one wicket each in her next three games, against Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants. She picked up the big wicket of Ashleigh Gardner (1) against Gujarat but proved very expensive, going for 45 runs in four overs.
Vastrakar was expensive in Mumbai Indians' last league clash against RCB as well, conceding 26 runs in three overs, without claiming a wicket. She failed to make an impact in the Eliminator as well against the same franchise. The bowler gave away 21 runs in three overs without picking up a wicket.
RCB stunned Mumbai Indians by five runs in the Eliminator to knock them out of WPL 2024. Vastrakar was stumped for 4 off Asha Sobhana as Mumbai Indians slumped in a chase of 136.