siliconindia.com Fantasy Cricket In India More Popular Than Ever
In India, cricket is viewed as the national sport of the country albeit unofficial. Therefore, it is not surprising to see that the game is making a foray into the world of fantasy sports gaming and 77% of fantasy sports platform users engage in cricket contests, according to a report released by KPMG. Even though the concept of fantasy sports was released in India in 2001, its popularity grew recently owing to affordable mobile data (after the Reliance Jio free Internet promotion) and the luxury of time that users enjoyed during the pandemic-induced lockdowns.
The concept of fantasy cricket is quite simple. Gamers go online and download fantasy cricket app, choose the cricket contest that they wish to participate in, and create their fantasy cricket team based on real-life cricketers who are performing well and are in top shape. Gamers win or lose according to the on-field performance of the players that they’ve selected for their virtual team. But, there is something more. Fantasy cricket games are not mindless games that are based on luck. To play fantasy cricket, one needs to have immense knowledge of the game and also an analytical mind to make strategies. In addition to staying entertained for hours, gamers also get to brush up on their cricket knowledge and skills.
The craze for fantasy cricket in India is extremely high and here are a few reasons why people are gaga over this game.
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India is home to cricket fanatics
Fantasy sports platforms are not only about cricket, but players also have the option of playing kabaddi, badminton, or football. But, even though other sports can be played, Indians prefer playing cricket. The reason for this is cricket being hailed as a religion in the country. Even though this isn’t officially the national sport of the country, a game of cricket helps in binding the country into one. Whenever there is a cricket match, you can see people lining up the streets, cheering for their Blue squad. Also, Indians have a very good knowledge of the rules of the game. This is why fantasy cricket has had no trouble finding a special place in the country.
By taking part in fantasy cricket leagues, users get to experience the thrill of the game first-hand.
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Users get a chance to hone their cricket skills and showcase their knowledge of the game
With a population of 136 crores, India is a country where people have a lot of opinions. Everybody has their own set of opinions and ideas when it comes to team selection for the upcoming matches. The fantasy cricket platform allows people to express their ideas and opinions about team combinations. Through this platform, people get to showcase their love for the game and also take part in all the excitement that players experience when on the ground. The game might be virtual, but it offers a chance to the users to prove that their ideas are right. They get to select players and create a team, take part in the various upcoming tournaments and leagues, study the pitch condition and analyze the weather conditions. Also, they have to carefully study the form and performance of each player when selecting their team of 11. The choice of the player who will be the captain is important because, in fantasy cricket, the captain fetches 2X points. Similarly, the selection of the vice-captain must be well-thought-out as the vice-captain scores 1.5X points.
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The enthusiasm and glitz of a live-action match can be experienced through smartphones
Cricket stadiums have a limited capacity, and therefore, it is not possible to always get to experience the live-action fun of the match. Also, the cricket team consists of only 11 players and there is the 12th man who is a reserve player. So, making it to the team of 11 is also a dream that only a few get to fulfill. However, thanks to fantasy cricket apps, everyone can take part in the actual excitement of the game. Gamers get to take part in the cricket leagues of their choice. For instance, by downloading the fantasy cricket app, you can participate in the upcoming IPL 2021. Create your team and take part in the match to be a part of the glitz and glam of the tournament. You don’t even have to leave your home for participating in the IPL. All you need is your smartphone or even your laptop.
Fantasy cricket is not only fun and games, and this is what makes the online game so much more interesting and popular. The skill of selection is a significant area where users need to excel. To accumulate maximum points when playing fantasy cricket, here are a few tips for you –
- Don’t forget to carefully analyze the pitch conditions for the match or league that you are participating in because not all players are excellent in all three pitches. Some pitches favor spinners while others favor cricketers. Choose wisely so that you can score the maximum points.
- The form and performance of the players are crucial during team selection. You need to keep a tab on the real-life performances of the players when creating your team. You will get to choose players from about 22 to 25 players.
- A pro tip to acing fantasy cricket is creating more than one team. By having multiple teams with a different combination of players, you can increase your chances of scoring high during the tournament.
- Make sure that your team consists of bowlers, batsmen, and also all-rounders. It is these all-rounders who will help to fetch you points for bowling, as well as, batting. They will also dazzle with their fielding abilities.
Fantasy cricket is a game of skill and it helps to keep users engaged and entertained for hours. As there’s no way of the popularity of cricket decreasing, fantasy cricket is here to stay. Have you started playing yet?
