There was a time when people thought of fantasy sports as a form of gambling. Fortunately, the legal system had more foresight, with India’s Hon’ Supreme Court ruling that fantasy sports is a game of skill that is not dependent merely on external factors like luck or chance. The court pointed out its similarities with the real-world sport, in terms of players having to select a team of XI, getting the team balance right and then depending on the on-field performances to score points. As you look for fantasy cricket tips that will give you an edge over your opponents, just what can you learn from real cricket? And how much do the two games have in common? Read on to find out!
Similarities
Get the balance right
Those selecting an Indian T20 League XI and those picking a fantasy side often face similar challenges. The Indian T20 League team cannot have more than four foreign players. Similarly, a fantasy XI cannot have more than seven players from one team. You also can’t have your team with 11 all-rounders, as tempting as the thought might be. As in real-world cricket, you have to find a balance between specialist batters, bowlers, all-rounders and a wicketkeeper. Moreover, this balance will vary according to the format. Test teams rarely have more than one or two genuine all-rounders. A top T20 side is often packed with three or four of them.
No points for reputation
Your team is only as good as its performances. You may pick the biggest names in the game, but if they don’t score runs or take wickets, your team will languish at the bottom of the table.
Differences
No mixing and matching in the real world
Your fantasy team could well have Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opening the batting together, but the Mumbai and Bangalore sides don’t have the luxury of picking both in the Indian T20 League. In the fantasy world, you could open the bowling with Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi. That’s highly unlikely in the real world. With actual cricket, coaches and selectors know what they’re working with. While selecting a fantasy team, players have to exercise even more judgement, while comparing the merits of those from different teams. Who would you pick among Kohli and Rohit in a T20, if you could select only one? And would your selection change if it was a 50-over game?
Rewards and bonuses
Fantasy games can reward you with bonus points for inspired selections. Sadly, there is no such leeway in real-world cricket. What’s written on the scoresheet is exactly what you take back to the pavilion with you.
The best fantasy league players are those who understand real-world cricket, while also being aware of how the fantasy version differs from it. If you think you’re one of those players, don’t wait anymore! Go for a fantasy app download on your mobile phone and pit your skills and expertise against real players from across the country to take home the biggest cash prizes!
