Why Delhi Capitals Are Allowed To Field 5 Overseas Players In DC vs RCB Match Despite 4-Player Limit In WPL

RCB vs DC WPL 2023 match started with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana opting to field first after winning the toss.

As per the playing XI rules set for Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023, teams have been allowed to field a maximum of four overseas players in their playing XI. ( Image Source :@wplt20 / Twitter )

Two of the strongest teams in the ongoing inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL 2023), Smrtiti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Meg Lanning-led Delhi Capitals (DC), are clashing against one another in second match of the historic Women's T20 tournament, being played at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.

RCB vs DC WPL 2023 match started with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana opting to field first after winning the toss. What caught everyone's attention was Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Meg Lanning naming a playing XI with five non-Indian (foreign/overseas) players against RCB. 

EXPLAINED: How Delhi Capitals fielded five overseas players in their playing XI in DC vs RCB match when WPL 2023 rules allow a maximum of 4 overseas players in playing XI

As per the playing XI rules set for Women's Premier League (WPL) 2023, teams have been allowed to field a maximum of four overseas players in their playing XI. Notably, Delhi Capitals is the only franchise to have an associate nation player in their team for WPL 2023. Limit for overseas players in any team's playing XI is four but there is an exception for an Associate Nation player. Hence, Delhi Capitals can field an Associate Nation player as their fifth overseas player.

Batting first, Delhi Capitals scored 223 runs for loss of 2 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Shafali Verma (84 runs off 45 balls) and Meg Lanning (72 runs off 43 balls) were the pick of batter in first innings. Delhi Capitals have now scored the highest total in Women's Premier League (WPL 2023). 

Delhi Capitals Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning(c), Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Jess Jonassen, Taniya Bhatia(w), Arundhati Reddy, Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Tara Norris

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Devine, Heather Knight, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh(w), Kanika Ahuja, Asha Shobana, Preeti Bose, Megan Schutt, Renuka Thakur Singh