Powerplay Rules in Cricket: ODI and T20 Fielding Restrictions
A powerplay is a block of overs in limited-overs cricket when the fielding team can have only a few fielders outside the 30-yard circle. It encourages attacking batting and makes the early overs exciting.
The 30-yard circle
The circle is an oval marked about 30 yards (27.4 metres) from the middle of the pitch. Fielders inside it are close enough to stop singles but leave the boundary open.
T20 powerplay rules
- Overs 1 to 6: no more than two fielders outside the circle.
- Overs 7 to 20: no more than five fielders outside the circle.
ODI powerplay rules
| Phase | Overs | Max fielders outside the circle |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay 1 | 1 to 10 | 2 |
| Powerplay 2 | 11 to 40 | 4 |
| Powerplay 3 | 41 to 50 | 5 |
What if the field is wrong?
If too many fielders are outside the circle when the ball is bowled, the umpire calls a no-ball. In limited-overs cricket, a free hit follows. See the free hit rule.
Slow over rates
Since 2022, a team that is behind the required over rate in a T20I must bring one extra fielder inside the circle for the remaining overs. Being a fielder short on the boundary in the final overs is a heavy penalty, so captains watch the clock closely.
Rain-shortened matches
When overs are lost to rain, the powerplay is shortened in proportion. In a T20 reduced to ten overs a side, for example, the powerplay lasts three overs.
Why the powerplay matters
With only two fielders out, any shot that clears the infield can reach the boundary. Teams send aggressive openers to make the most of it, and a strong powerplay often decides a T20 match. Bowlers, in turn, try to take early wickets with swing or pace before the field spreads.
See where fielders stand in cricket fielding positions, and how chases are tracked in the run rate calculator.