Think of it as a way to watch cricket more closely, not as a way to earn money. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits online money games, whether based on skill, chance or both, while promoting e-sports and online social games. Paid-entry contests with cash prizes fall within what the Act targets, so this guide treats fantasy cricket as a free, social game. Check the law that applies to you.
What is Fantasy Cricket?
Fantasy cricket is a game of prediction built on real matches. Before a fixture starts, you choose a squad from the players named for both sides. Once play begins, every run, wicket and catch those players produce earns points for your team, and your total is compared with friends in a private league or on a leaderboard.
It rewards people who follow the game closely: who is in form, who bowls at the death, who opens the batting. Many fans first tried it during the IPL, and it has since become part of how a lot of people enjoy domestic and international cricket with their friends.
How the Game Works
Most fantasy cricket formats follow the same basic flow, even if the screens and names differ.
- Pick a match from the list of upcoming fixtures.
- Build a team of 11 players from both squads within a fixed credit budget.
- Choose a captain and a vice-captain, who earn extra points.
- Save your team before the deadline, usually the scheduled start of the match.
- Follow the live match as your points update, then check the final standings.
Many platforms let you edit your team until the deadline, so wait for the toss and the confirmed playing XIs before you lock in your picks.
Basic Rules & Player Selection
Team rules vary by platform, so always read them first. Still, a few patterns are common across most formats:
- Squad Size: You pick 11 players, just like a real cricket team.
- Credit Budget: Each player carries a credit value, usually higher for star names, and your 11 must fit within a set total.
- Role Limits: You need a minimum, and sometimes a maximum, number of wicketkeepers, batters, all-rounders and bowlers.
- Team Cap: Many formats limit how many players you can take from one side, so you cannot simply copy a single XI.
Choosing your players
Start with the likely playing XIs, then think about roles. All-rounders are valuable because they can score with both bat and ball. Top-order batters usually face more deliveries than those lower down, and bowlers who operate in the powerplay and at the death tend to get more chances to take wickets.
Balance your budget too. Spending heavily on three superstars can leave you with weak picks elsewhere. A mix of proven performers and in-form, lower-credit players often makes for a sturdier team.
Understanding the Points System
Points reward what players do in the real match. The table below shows a typical T20-style structure, but exact values vary by platform and by format, so treat these numbers as an illustration only.
| Action | Typical Points (Example) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Run scored | +1 per run | Basic batting reward |
| Four | +1 bonus | Added on top of the runs |
| Six | +2 bonus | Added on top of the runs |
| Wicket (not a run out) | +25 | Usually the biggest single reward |
| Catch | +8 | Some formats add a bonus for several catches |
| Duck | −2 | Often applies only to batting roles |
Many formats also add bonuses for milestones such as a half-century or three wickets, and some award or deduct points for strike rate and economy rate. Your captain's points are commonly doubled and your vice-captain's multiplied by 1.5.
Example: 40 runs + (4 fours × 1) + (1 six × 2) = 46 points; as captain at 2× = 92 points
That multiplier is why the captain choice matters so much. A captain who has a quiet day costs you more than any other single pick in your team.
Tips for Beginners
- Read the Rules First: Check the scoring table and team rules on the platform before you build anything.
- Wait for the Toss: Confirmed XIs and the pitch report can change your best picks.
- Value All-Rounders: They give you two routes to points in the same match.
- Pick Captains Carefully: Favor consistent, high-involvement players over one-off big hitters.
- Keep It Social: Play free leagues with friends and set a time limit, as you would for any hobby.
Walk away from any website or chat group that sells "guaranteed" fantasy teams or asks you to pay money to enter contests.