Whichever fantasy cricket game you play, busy days lie ahead, with the 2-month-long Indian T20 League extravaganza upon us. As you gear up for contests every day, it’s only natural that those of you who are fairly new to the fantasy cricket space would have some questions about how it works. Here we answer the most commonly asked questions about fantasy cricket games.
- Is playing fantasy cricket legal in India?
Before you start to play fantasy cricket games, this is the first thing you need to be aware of. In India, playing fantasy cricket games is 100% legal. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India considers fantasy cricket to be a game of skill. Skill games like fantasy cricket require players to utilize their skill and expertise to win and playing skills games is perfectly legal.
- How do I select a fantasy team?
A good team always has the right balance. That means a wicketkeeper who can contribute runs (you can pick more than one wicketkeeper in fantasy cricket as there are two sides to choose from), fast-scoring and consistent batters, wicket-taking bowlers and all-rounders capable of doing both. The balance of a fantasy cricket team is often quite different from that of a real one. You could well end up picking 3 or 4 all-rounders from the two teams and playing with just 3 specialist batters or 3 specialist bowlers. Fantasy cricket gives you that luxury, which actual selectors don’t have.
Pick a team according to the format you’re playing. In Twenty20 cricket, those batting in the top 4 make the bulk of the runs and the wickets tend to be taken mostly with the new ball or by those who bowl at the end of the innings.
Pay attention to the conditions too. A hard, dry pitch usually means runs and also help for spin bowlers. A well-grassed surface usually helps seam bowlers and makes batting difficult. In such conditions, your all-rounders are much more likely to come into play, as are specialist batters and fast bowlers.
- When should I pick my team?
Ideally in the 24 hours before a game is to be played. It’s best to have an XI ready the day before the game, and you can then tweak it based on any last-minute unforeseen changes announced during the toss. But whatever you do, check your XI once the teams have been announced before the start of play.
The last thing you want is to end up with 2 or 3 players in your XI who aren’t even playing the match. Worse still if one of them happens to be your captain or vice captain. For instance, thousands of fantasy players had picked P. Cummins as captain in a recent Ashes Test only to discover that being exposed to a Covid-positive person the evening before the game meant he had to go into quarantine and miss the contest.
- Who should I pick as a captain?
This is probably where fantasy cricket differs the most from its real-world version. Captains of an actual cricket team are usually very carefully chosen. And it’s a selection based on historical performance, seniority, personality, media skills and many other factors. That gives you a tiny pool of players to choose from.
Those selecting fantasy teams aren’t limited by such constraints. In fact, you can say that there are none. Captains in fantasy cricket are especially important, because the points they score usually get multiplied by 2. For a vice captain, it’s generally 1.5 times. But in both cases, the only factor you need to consider is form. Your captain doesn’t need to have played 200 games or taken 300 wickets. It could be a new player who has been promoted from the Under-19s or a veteran who is currently enjoying a purple patch.
What is very important is to keep track of performances throughout the season. Have a sense of which players are in good form and which ones have a great record against that particular opponent. There is no foolproof way to pick a team or a captain. But following the form guide is generally a safe option.
- What can give me a winning advantage?
Picking a winning team is hardly an exact science. But if you’ve analyzed the playing conditions, the head-to-head record between the two sides, and individual displays against that opposition, you’re better prepared than most. The conditions will also guide you as to what the best team balance could be. Specialist cricket websites offer a wealth of pre-match information. But so do the leading fantasy cricket apps with their predictions. You can sift through as much information as you want before making an informed choice. Once your playing XI is chosen, it’s down to your instincts to make the best picks for captain and vice captain.
Hopefully, these answers have given you some insight into the fantasy cricket phenomenon. Now it’s up to you. Download the best fantasy cricket app, practice until you’ve fine-tuned your strategy and play for big prizes. Happy gaming!