Fantasy sports have been popular around the world for a long time. Fantasy sports originated in the United States, and the popularity of this genre is only increasing with each passing day. Fantasy cricket is an online version of cricket where people like you and me can create a virtual team with real players for an upcoming match and then earn points based on how these players perform on the actual match day.

As most of us would be all too familiar, India is one cricket crazy country. Few things unite Indians more than The Gentleman’s Game. Few things unite Indians more than The Gentleman’s Game. Not surprisingly, fantasy cricket too has gained a mass following in India, as observed by Mint, and this genre of sport has led to the creation of earning opportunities for fans and fanatics of the game alike. Unknown – and often surprising – to a lot of people, fantasy cricket does offer avenues for people to earn money.

Playing in a cricket fantasy league is quite simple. All you need to do is select an upcoming cricket match, create a virtual team of your own comprising 11 players, deposit some money and join a contest, and track the contest leaderboard to see how your players are performing once the actual match begins. It’s that simple!

Winning money or prizes from fantasy cricket depends on users earning points and maintaining a top rank on the leaderboard. To state the obvious, you must score more than your competitors on a given match day. In this blog, we give you some of our tips on how you can maximise your earning potential from fantasy cricket:

Keep a check on player performance

One of the most important factors to consider when playing fantasy cricket is how well a cricketer has been performing. Passionate as we may be about our favourite cricketers, it is strongly recommended to choose players based on how they have been performing in recent games and not based on their career records, because how much you earn will depend on how they perform on the actual match day. It is said that form is temporary, but class is permanent, but the form is what has a greater influence on your potential earnings in a given cricket match.

Research weather and pitch conditions

As your potential earnings from a cricket match will depend on how the players actually perform, it is essential to do some research beforehand. While inclement weather may result in some games being called off or postponed, certain weather conditions can affect the outcome of a game. It also is important to consider the conditions of the cricket pitch, as not all ground surfaces are the same.

Understand the point scoring system

Not all fantasy cricket apps have an identical point scoring system. It is, therefore, important to understand the points structure of the app you are using. Some apps give more weightage to batting points, like runs, while others give more weightage to bowling points, like wickets. Some apps offer a balanced point scoring system for batting, bowling and fielding. Sometimes the points you score vary depending on the format of game being played. So, your points will differ depending on whether it is a Test match, a T20 match or a One Day International match.

Pick your battles

One major pitfall to be cautious of is the temptation to play all matches in the expectation of earning more money. It is especially dangerous if you have little or no knowledge about the matches as it may result in you losing your money. Another potential danger is the temptation to invest all your money in one match. We all know the proverb “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, so unless you’re absolutely sure, spread your investments somewhat evenly to minimise the risk of losing your money.

Use apps that allow team modification

Most fantasy cricket apps close contest entries one hour before the official time a match is set to begin. As the toss is conducted only 30 minutes before a match begins, it is only after the toss that you have a better idea of the likely best players. That being said, try to play in apps that allow you to modify your team even after the toss until the match actually starts. After all, the more knowledge you have, the better equipped you will be to select the best team formation!

Create optimal teams

This should go without saying, but selecting the best players greatly impacts your chances of winning. You should also consider creating multiple teams, and having a higher proportion of all-rounders increases the likelihood of your team winning as these players will give you points for both batting and bowling. Also, selecting top-order batsmen is an effective way to significantly increase your earnings as it is natural that they will score higher runs.

Pick your captain and vice-captain wisely

Often overlooked by many, choosing the right captain and vice-captain can often make the difference between winning big and losing out. The captain and vice-captain of each fantasy cricket team respectively get 2 times and 1.5 times the points that regular players win you. So if you manage to make a selection of the two best performing players in the game as your captain and vice-captain, you will have a considerable edge over your competitors. It is therefore important to select your captain and vice-captain based on performance records and game insights.

If you just keep these few points in mind while playing fantasy cricket, you will have higher chances of winning a match as well as your rank on the leaderboard. So, now that you are armed with these important tips, we say follow your instincts, make informed and educated decisions with regard to your team, and most importantly, have fun! Download fantasy cricket app now and find out how you can make big bucks while playing your favourite game.