Avoiding the Top Most Fantasy Cricket Blunders

Fantasy cricket is a fun way to enjoy the game and earn extra money. However, making mistakes can hurt your chances of winning. Let’s look at the most common cricket blunders and how you can avoid them.

Fantasy Cricket Mistake #1: Going In Blind

Choosing a team without doing any research is a very common mistake among players. Some key mistake points include:

Not Researching Player Performance & Stats

One of the most common mistakes in fantasy cricket is failing to research player stats and performance. Picking players based on their names or past reputations can lead to undesirable results.
To build a strong team, analyse recent player performances. Check player stats such as runs scored, wickets taken, and their form over the last few matches. Players in good form are more likely to perform well.

Ignoring Match Conditions

Ignoring match conditions is another big mistake in fantasy cricket. Match conditions include factors like weather, pitch type, and venue. These can greatly affect how players perform.

For example, some pitches favour fast bowlers while others favour spinners or batsmen. Weather can also play a big role; rain can shorten a match or make the pitch more difficult to play on. Additionally, the venue might have a history of high- or low-scoring games. In high-scoring venues, picking more batsmen can yield better returns, whereas in low-scoring games or on tricky pitches, focusing on a bowler-heavy team can be a good strategy.

Letting Emotions Dictate Your Picks

Picking players from your favourite team or based on personal preference can lead to poor choices. Instead, focus on statistics and performance when selecting your team. Just because you like a player doesn’t mean they will perform well in every match. Look at their recent form, fitness, and how they match up against an opponent batsman or bowler. This way, you’ll have a better chance of creating a winning fantasy cricket team.

By focusing on player performance and statistics rather than personal preferences, you’re taking a significant step towards mastering our Fantasy Cricket Prediction Tips.

Ignoring the Toss: A Vital Oversight

Always check the toss before finalising your team.  Once the toss result is known, you can check the starting lineups to ensure that you only pick players who appear in the match. And as the team batting second cannot score more runs than the team batting first, middle-order batting picks from the team batting first can be better picks than those batting in the middle/lower order of the chasing team.

Mistake #2: Captain Confusion & Ignoring All-Rounders

Many players make the mistake of picking a captain based solely on their batting skills. However, all-rounders who contribute with both bat and ball can be excellent captain choices. Don’t ignore all-rounders and star bowlers like J Bumrah when selecting your captain. Consider their recent form and how they perform in different match conditions.

Underestimating the Captain’s Bonus

Some fantasy players don’t pay enough attention to the captain’s bonus and pick a captain without much thought. The captain earns double points, so choosing the right captain is very important. Consider players who are in good form and likely to score big or take wickets. Making the right choice here can make a big difference in your fantasy cricket score.

Neglecting Vice Captain Potential

Don’t forget to select a good vice-captain when building your fantasy cricket team. While the captain earns double points, the vice-captain earns 1.5 times the points.
Some fantasy players focus solely on picking the captain and overlook the vice-captain. But picking a strong vice-captain can also significantly boost your points if your captain doesn’t perform well. Select a vice-captain who is likely to perform well but may be a slightly less obvious choice than your captain.

Mistake #3: Not Knowing the Points System

Another mistake in fantasy cricket is not knowing the points system. It determines how players earn points based on their performance in real matches. Many players don’t take the time to understand this system, which can lead to poor decision-making when selecting their team. Points systems differ slightly across different popular fantasy apps, so adjusting your team depending on which app you are playing can yield beneficial results.

Understanding Fantasy Points Allocation

In fantasy cricket, it’s important to understand how points are allocated. Here’s a simple breakdown:

  • Batting: Players earn points for scoring runs. The more runs they score, the more points they get.
  • Bowling: Players earn points for taking wickets. The more wickets they take, the more points they earn.
  • Fielding: Players earn points for catches, run-outs, and stumpings. These points can add up quickly.
  • Bonus Points: Bonus points for milestones like half-centuries, five-wicket hauls, etc.

Maximising point potential

Here are some simple tips to help you avoid making common cricket mistakes and earn maximum points:

  • Avoid picking players who aren’t playing in the match.
  • Pick players who are in good form and likely to perform well in the upcoming matches.
  • All-rounders who contribute with both bat and ball can earn you points in multiple ways.
  • Consider factors like weather, pitch conditions, and venue scores, as they can affect player performance and your team’s optimal combination.
  • Learn how points are allocated for batting, bowling, and fielding

Wrapping Up

In fantasy cricket, avoiding common cricket blunders is the key to success. We have gone through important factors like researching player performance, considering match conditions, choosing the right captain and vice-captain and understanding the points system to get higher fantasy points.

Make smarter choices, earn more points, and dominate your league with 11Wizards, your personal fantasy cricket expert. Combined with your knowledge, our “lineup wizard”, based on predictive analytics and complex mathematical algorithms, helps you build a super team. Get started with 11Wizards today to enhance your fantasy cricket experience.

FAQs

How much focus should I put on the pitch and weather conditions to avoid mistakes?

Pitch and weather conditions are crucial factors in fantasy cricket. They significantly impact player performance, especially for bowlers and all-rounders. Pay close attention to pitch reports and weather forecasts before finalising your team. Adapt your selections based on whether conditions favour batting or bowling, and consider how humidity or heat might affect player stamina and performance.

Is it always best to choose the star players as captain and vice-captain?

Not always. It’s important to consider the current form and match conditions. Sometimes, lesser-known players in good form can score more points.

What are common mistakes to avoid in fantasy cricket?

Here are some common mistakes to avoid in fantasy cricket:

  1. Insufficient Research: Neglecting to thoroughly research player performance, recent form, and historical statistics can lead to poor team selection.
  2. Ignoring Match Conditions: Failing to consider pitch conditions, weather, and venue-specific factors can impact player performance.
  3. Points System Understanding: Not being well-versed in the fantasy points system may result in suboptimal choices. Understand how points are awarded for runs, wickets, catches, and other actions.

How can 11Wizards help me correct my mistakes in fantasy contests?

11Wizards factors in the match conditions, toss result, team strength, expected player performances and platform points systems to help you craft data-driven lineups.

AspectPre-Toss PredictionsPost-Toss Predictions
Accuracy of PredictionsPredictions are based on unconfirmed lineups, without knowing the toss outcome. They are ‘best guesses’ based on various data points and publicly available data. Usually less accuratePredictions are based on the actual outcome of the toss and the confirmed lineups, hence they are usually more accurate.
Risk and FlexibilityHigher risk due to unknown factors like which team will bat first and less flexibility as early lineups are based on projections rather than confirmed details.Lower risk as strategies can be adjusted to actual conditions; flexibility in adapting lineups based on the toss outcome and real-time match information.
Impact on StrategyEssential for early lineup locks in leagues requiring submissions before the toss; it involves a level of guesswork but allows early strategy development.Enables precise adjustments, allowing players to optimise lineups according to specific game conditions, such as team batting or bowling first.