Learn how fantasy cricket points are calculated, master captain selection strategy, and discover the tactics used by top fantasy players to build championship-winning teams.
Table of Contents
What is Fantasy Cricket?
Fantasy cricket is a skill-based online game where participants create virtual teams of real cricket players before a match. Points are awarded based on the actual performance of selected players in the real match. The team with the highest points wins.
How It Works
Players select a squad of 11 players within a budget constraint (typically 100 credits). Each player has a credit value based on their perceived skill and recent form. The challenge is to build the best possible team within budget while balancing different player roles.
Key elements include:
- Budget Management: 100 credits to select 11 players
- Role Requirements: Minimum batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, and wicket-keepers
- Captain Selection: One player earns 2x points
- Vice-Captain Selection: One player earns 1.5x points
- Team Restrictions: Maximum players from one real team (usually 7)
Understanding the Point Scoring System
Fantasy cricket points are awarded for various on-field contributions. While platforms may vary slightly, most follow a similar structure:
Batting Points
- Runs: 1 point per run scored
- Boundaries: +1 bonus point per four (total 5 points for a four)
- Sixes: +2 bonus points per six (total 8 points for a six)
- Half-Century (50 runs): +8 bonus points
- Century (100 runs): +16 bonus points
- Duck (0 runs): -2 points (for batsmen and all-rounders)
Bowling Points
- Wickets: 25 points per wicket
- Maiden Over: 8 points (limited-overs formats)
- 3 Wickets: +4 bonus points
- 4 Wickets: +8 bonus points
- 5 Wickets: +16 bonus points
- Economy Rate Bonus: +6 points (economy below 5 in T20, below 3.5 in ODI)
- Economy Rate Penalty: -6 points (economy above 12 in T20, above 9 in ODI)
Fielding Points
- Catch: 8 points
- Stumping: 12 points
- Run Out (Direct): 12 points
- Run Out (Indirect): 6 points
- 3 Catches: +4 bonus points
Strike Rate Bonuses (T20/ODI)
- Strike Rate 150-170: +6 points (minimum 10 balls)
- Strike Rate above 170: +12 points (minimum 10 balls)
- Strike Rate below 60: -6 points (minimum 10 balls)
Captain and Vice-Captain Selection Strategy
Captain selection is the most critical decision in fantasy cricket. The captain earns 2x points, while the vice-captain earns 1.5x points. This multiplier effect can swing contests dramatically.
Captain Selection Criteria
1. Recent Form: Prioritize players with strong performances in their last 3-5 matches. A batsman scoring 50+ consistently or a bowler taking 2+ wickets regularly is ideal.
2. Match-Up Advantage: Consider opposition quality. A top batsman facing weak bowling or a quality bowler against a struggling batting lineup has higher point potential.
3. Pitch and Conditions: Batting-friendly pitches favor batsmen and all-rounders. Bowler-friendly conditions favor pace or spin bowlers depending on surface.
4. Role in Team: Opening batsmen and death bowlers typically have more opportunities to score fantasy points than middle-order batsmen or part-time bowlers.
5. All-Rounder Advantage: All-rounders who contribute in multiple disciplines can accumulate points through batting, bowling, and fielding, making them excellent captain choices.
Common Captain Archetypes
- Explosive Opener: High strike rate, boundary-hitting ability, faces most balls
- Consistent Middle-Order Anchor: Reliable runs, often bats deep into innings
- Strike Bowler: Takes wickets regularly, bowls in powerplay and death
- Premium All-Rounder: Contributes with both bat and ball, multiple point sources
Vice-Captain Strategy
The vice-captain should be your "safety net" - a consistent performer who's less risky than your captain but still has high point potential. Ideally, choose a player from the opposite discipline (if captain is a batsman, choose a bowler as VC) to diversify risk.
Evaluating Players for Maximum Points
Batsmen Evaluation
Look for batsmen who combine consistency with boundary-hitting ability:
- Average above 35: Indicates consistency
- Strike rate above 130 (T20) or 85 (ODI): Ensures bonus points
- Batting position 1-4: More balls faced = more point opportunities
- Boundary percentage above 50%: Maximizes bonus points from fours and sixes
Bowlers Evaluation
Prioritize wicket-taking ability over economy in most formats:
- Wickets per match above 1.5: Consistent wicket-taker
- Economy rate below 8 (T20) or 5.5 (ODI): Bonus point potential
- Bowls in powerplay or death: More wicket opportunities
- Bowling average below 25: Efficient wicket-taking
All-Rounders Evaluation
All-rounders are fantasy gold when they contribute in multiple areas:
- Batting average above 25 AND bowling average below 30: Balanced contribution
- Bats in top 6 AND bowls 3-4 overs: Maximum involvement
- Recent multi-discipline performances: Runs + wickets in same match
Wicket-Keepers Evaluation
Wicket-keepers earn points through batting and dismissals:
- Batting position 1-5: Ensures sufficient batting opportunities
- Average dismissals per match above 1.5: Catches + stumpings
- Batting average above 30: Contributes with the bat
Platform-Specific Scoring Differences
While most fantasy platforms follow similar scoring systems, there are important differences:
Dream11
- Standard scoring as described above
- Strike rate bonuses apply after 10 balls minimum
- Economy bonuses apply after 2 overs minimum
MPL (Mobile Premier League)
- Similar to Dream11 with minor variations
- Slightly different bonus thresholds for strike rate
- Additional points for "Player of the Match"
FanCode
- Unique "Super Over" bonus points
- Different economy rate thresholds
- Additional fielding points for boundary saves
Important: Always check the specific platform's scoring rules before finalizing your team, as these variations can significantly impact player selection strategy.
Building Balanced Fantasy Teams
The 3-4-4 Formation (Conservative)
3 batsmen, 4 all-rounders, 4 bowlers - Balanced approach suitable for unpredictable pitches.
The 4-3-4 Formation (Batting-Heavy)
4 batsmen, 3 all-rounders, 4 bowlers - Use on batting-friendly pitches or when one team has strong batting lineup.
The 3-3-5 Formation (Bowling-Heavy)
3 batsmen, 3 all-rounders, 5 bowlers - Ideal for bowler-friendly conditions or when quality bowlers are available at low credits.
Budget Allocation Strategy
- Premium Players (9-11 credits): 3-4 players - Your captain/VC candidates
- Mid-Range Players (7-8.5 credits): 4-5 players - Consistent performers
- Budget Players (6.5 or below): 2-3 players - Differential picks or value finds
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Ignoring Recent Form
A player's reputation doesn't guarantee points. Always prioritize recent performances over career statistics.
2. Overloading from One Team
While tempting to pick 7 players from a strong team, this creates risk if that team underperforms. Aim for 5-6 maximum.
3. Neglecting Pitch and Weather Conditions
A spin-friendly pitch makes spinners more valuable. Overcast conditions favor pace bowlers. Always research conditions.
4. Choosing Safe Captains
In large contests, differential captain choices can be the difference between winning and finishing mid-pack. Don't always follow the crowd.
5. Ignoring Playing XI Announcements
Always wait for confirmed team lineups before finalizing your team. An expensive player on the bench earns zero points.
Advanced Winning Tactics
1. Leverage Ownership Percentages
In large contests, picking low-ownership players who perform well can vault you up leaderboards. Use this for vice-captain or differential picks.
2. Multi-Team Strategy
Create multiple teams with different captain choices and formations to hedge risk and increase winning probability.
3. Correlation Strategy
If you captain an opening batsman, consider picking the opposing team's powerplay bowlers. If the batsman fails, the bowlers likely succeed, and vice versa.
4. Late Team Changes
Monitor toss results and make last-minute changes. Teams batting first might favor batsmen; teams chasing might favor bowlers who can defend.
5. Value Hunting
Identify underpriced players who are likely to play and contribute. This frees up budget for premium players elsewhere.
Conclusion
Fantasy cricket combines cricket knowledge, statistical analysis, and strategic thinking. Success requires understanding the point scoring system, evaluating players objectively, making bold captain choices, and building balanced teams within budget constraints.
Use this calculator to project player points based on expected performance, compare captain options, and optimize your team composition. Remember that fantasy cricket is a game of probabilities - even the best teams can fail, but consistent application of sound strategy will yield long-term success.
The Fantasy Cricket Points Calculator helps you project player performance in fantasy format, enabling data-driven team selection and captain choices.
By understanding the point scoring system and using this tool to compare options, you can build optimized teams that maximize point potential within budget constraints.
Use this calculator before every match to evaluate captain candidates, compare formations, and make informed decisions that increase your chances of fantasy cricket success.