The first six overs of a T20 innings is the powerplay. Only two fielders can be outside the inner circle, the batting team has more space to score, and the run rate is usually 1.5 to 2 times higher than the rest of the innings.
For bettors, the powerplay market is one of the most-traded markets on Funexchange cricket exchange during the IPL. The question we asked our trader desk to dig into: across 200 recent IPL innings, what patterns hold for the first six overs?
The data set
200 innings from IPL 2023, 2024 and 2025. First innings only (chasing innings are different, we’ll cover those separately). Powerplay run total = total runs in overs 1 to 6 inclusive, regardless of wickets lost.
The headline number
Median first-innings powerplay total across 200 IPL games: 54 runs.
Average: 55.8 runs.
Standard deviation: ~12.5 runs. The 10th percentile sits at 38 runs (slow start), the 90th percentile at 73 runs (fast start). The distribution is roughly normal with a slight right skew, meaning the fast-start outliers are bigger than the slow-start outliers.
What this means for the powerplay-total market: when traders set the line at 54.5, they’re aiming for the median. About half the games will go over, half under. Your edge comes from spotting when the line is set wrong for the specific match conditions.
The 5 factors that move the powerplay line
1. Pitch type
Powerplay average by ground (200-game sample):
- Wankhede, Mumbai: 62 runs avg
- M Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru: 60 runs avg
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata: 56 runs avg
- Chepauk, Chennai: 48 runs avg
- Narendra Modi, Ahmedabad: 53 runs avg
Wankhede and Chinnaswamy are scoring grounds. Chepauk has slow pitches that punish powerplay aggression. If the trader sets a 54.5 line at Chepauk, take under. If they set 54.5 at Wankhede, take over.
2. Toss decision
When the team batting first chose to bat (won the toss and elected): powerplay average 57 runs.
When the team batting first was forced to bat (lost the toss, opposition chose to field): powerplay average 52 runs.
The 5-run difference is real. Captains who choose to bat usually do so because conditions favour batting first. Captains who are forced to bat are often playing on a pitch they wouldn’t have chosen.
3. Opening pair quality
If both openers averaged 35+ in the previous 10 IPL games: powerplay average 60 runs.
If at least one opener was averaging under 25: powerplay average 49 runs.
Sounds obvious, but the market often doesn’t fully price it in. Opener form matters more than the team’s overall batting depth in the powerplay.
4. Weather (dew and humidity)
Evening games at humid grounds (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) from October to February tend to start slower because morning/afternoon pitches haven’t fully dried, then accelerate as dew makes the ball slick for bowlers.
Watch this: at Mumbai in November, the first-innings powerplay can run 10 runs below the season average, while the second-innings powerplay can run 8 runs above.
5. New ball bowlers
Teams with two genuine swing-bowling new-ball options (think Bumrah + Boult, or Boult + Behrendorff) have powerplay averages 7 runs lower than teams without.
Teams that open with a part-timer or a finger spinner have powerplay averages 5 to 8 runs higher.
The trade we like in IPL 2026
Combining the five factors, here’s the pattern the data supports:
Bet UNDER on powerplay total when:
- Game is at Chepauk or Mohali
- Team batting first lost the toss
- Both teams have strong new-ball bowlers
- Game is evening with expected dew
Bet OVER on powerplay total when:
- Game is at Wankhede, Chinnaswamy or Brabourne
- Team batting first chose to bat
- Opponents are short on new-ball quality
- Game is afternoon with no expected dew
This isn’t a guaranteed-winner strategy. It’s a discipline. Bet ₹500 to ₹1,000 stakes when 3+ factors align, smaller stakes (₹100 to ₹200) when only 2 align, skip when factors are mixed.
What new bettors usually get wrong on powerplay markets
They bet over by default. Modern IPL feels like every team scores 70 in the powerplay. The actual median is 54. Over is not the safe bet. Under is roughly equally profitable across a season.
They place bets in over 1 itself. The first over of an innings often resolves at 6 to 12 runs with zero predictive value about overs 2 to 6. The line moves heavily on the first-over result and you usually get worse prices entering after it. Place pre-match if you have a strong view.
They forget about wickets. The powerplay-runs market is just runs, regardless of wickets. A side that’s 40/4 after 5 overs is just as eligible for “over 54.5” as a side that’s 65/0. Volatility creates the over.
FAQs
What’s the powerplay in cricket?
The first 6 overs of a T20 innings, where only 2 fielders can be outside the inner 30-yard circle. This restriction favours batting and produces higher run rates than the rest of the innings.
What’s the powerplay total market on Funexchange?
An over/under bet on the total runs scored in overs 1 to 6 of the innings. The trader sets a line (54.5, say) and you bet over or under. Settles immediately after over 6 ends.
Can I trade out of a powerplay bet mid-innings?
Yes. Click “cash out” on any matched powerplay bet to settle at the current market value. Useful if the innings goes very fast or very slow in the first 3 overs and you want to lock in.
Are powerplay markets available in Tests and ODIs?
Different powerplay rules apply (50-over cricket has 3 powerplays, Tests have none). On Funexchange we list powerplay markets for T20 and T10 formats only.
What’s the minimum stake?
₹50. Maximum varies by match: typically ₹10 lakh per bet on IPL matches, lower on smaller leagues.
Trade powerplay markets across IPL 2026 on Funexchange Cricket Exchange.