Fantasy cricket on Indian platforms — the rules, the math, and where the rules actually differ.
Player11 maps how Dream11, My11Circle, MPL, and other Indian fantasy cricket platforms run their contests. Captain multipliers, role limits, the 100-cr salary cap, and contest formats are explained the way a researcher reads a stat sheet.
How Indian fantasy cricket works
Fantasy cricket is a skill-based format where you pick eleven players from a real fixture, the players earn points based on what they actually do on the field, and your lineup's total decides the rank inside a contest. The rules look identical across platforms at first glance — pick eleven, keep under the cap, name a captain — but the multipliers, the role limits, and the bonus point weights quietly differ. Player11 tracks those differences and writes them out explicitly so you can decide which platform suits the way you actually play.
The standard contest asks you to pick a squad using a 100-credit salary cap, with role limits set at one wicketkeeper, three to six batsmen, one to four all-rounders, and three to six bowlers. The captain's points are multiplied by two, the vice-captain's by one and a half, and impact-player substitutions are allowed between innings in some formats. Reading these rules correctly is the first job of any team builder.
The 100-cr salary cap, 2x captain multiplier, and 1.5x vice-captain multiplier are the most common settings on Dream11, My11Circle, MPL, and Vision11 as of July 2026. Always check the contest rules before locking your XI.
Contest formats and where they differ
The three contest formats you'll meet on Indian platforms are head-to-head contests, league contests (sometimes called "mega leagues"), and practice contests. The scoring is the same; the rank logic and the contest size are different.
In a head-to-head, your XI plays one opponent, the higher total wins. The captain multiplier swings more in this format because a single wicket or fifty determines the outcome. In a league, hundreds or thousands of entries compete, and the captain multiplier still swings the outcome, but the volatility spreads across the field. Practice contests use the same scoring but no real money — they're a way to test a lineup before a paid contest.
| Format | Multiplier | Captain weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head-to-head | 2.0x / 1.5x | Heavier | Specific matchup calls |
| League | 2.0x / 1.5x | Even | Broader ceiling reads |
| Mega league | 2.0x / 1.5x | Even | High-ceiling swings |
| Practice | 2.0x / 1.5x | Test only | Reading the format |
| 3x captain league (rare) | 3.0x / 1.5x | Heavy | Specific captain picks |
How points are scored
Most platforms share a common scoring sheet. A batter earns 1 point per run, a four is 4 bonus points, a six is 6 bonus points, and a strike-rate bonus applies for high-impact innings. A bowler earns 25 points per wicket, a maiden over is 8 points, and an economy bonus applies for tight spells. Fielding actions — catches, stumpings, direct-hit run-outs — add 8 to 12 points each.
The captain badge is the largest controllable swing. With a 2x multiplier, a fifty from your captain becomes 100 points, a wicket from your captain becomes 50 points. The choice of captain pick is more important than the choice of any one starting player.
The 100-cr salary cap
The salary cap is the trickiest part of an Indian fantasy XI. Every player has a credit value set by the platform based on their recent form, fixture difficulty, and the platform's internal model. Your job is to spend under 100 credits while keeping the highest projected ceiling.
Most successful XIs spend around 38 to 45 credits on the top three picks, save credits on the keeper slot, and load up on two all-rounders. Reading the salary cap is the part where the most matches are won — it's rarely about a single brilliant pick.
Captain picks
Captain picks deserve a separate article and Player11 keeps a dedicated captain matrix at /fantasy-tips/. The short version: the captain should be a high-floor pick in a fixture where he is expected to bat or bowl for the full match, the vice-captain should hedge against the captain's downside.
Player11 tracks each platform's captain multiplier because some contests offer 3x multipliers (with 1.5x vice-captain) in mega leagues. Always read the contest card before locking.
Where paid fantasy cricket is open
Paid fantasy cricket is permitted in most Indian states under skill-based gaming exceptions. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and a small group of others either restrict or fully prohibit paid fantasy formats. Player11 keeps an up-to-date eligibility table at /state-eligibility/ under the MeitY online gaming framework.
Play responsibly
Fantasy cricket is a skill-based format, but it's still a financial product. Player11 reads it as a research desk, not as a wallet — we do not run a wallet, process deposits, or run contests. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, contact iCall at 9152987821 or visit gamblersanonymous.org.
FAQ — Fantasy Cricket
What is the role of a wicketkeeper in fantasy cricket? Every XI must include at least one wicketkeeper. Most teams slot the keeper at number 4 to 6 in the batting order, which allows points in both batting and dismissals.
Can I change my XI after locking? Most platforms allow XI changes until the official toss. After the toss, the lineup is locked — substitutions are only allowed via the impact-player rule between innings.
Is fantasy cricket legal in India? Yes, in most states. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, and Sikkim restrict or prohibit paid formats.
Platform comparison
The major Indian fantasy cricket platforms — Dream11, My11Circle, MPL, Vision11 — share a core scoring system but differ on contest types, payment flows, and player projections. Dream11 carries the largest contest pool. My11Circle emphasises head-to-head formats and joint-account referrals. MPL bundles cricket with other games. Vision11 carries the cleanest reading-desk experience. Player11 reads across the four platforms and publishes platform-by-platform reads when the differences matter.
Platform-by-platform captain multiplier
Most Indian platforms use a 2x captain multiplier and a 1.5x vice-captain multiplier. Some mega leagues on Dream11 use 3x for the captain. Head-to-head formats on My11Circle keep 2x and 1.5x. The desk tracks each platform's multiplier because the captain badge swings more on 3x formats. Read the contest card before locking the captain badge.
Reading-desk letters: [email protected]. Captain picks: /captain-picks-guide/. Salary cap: /salary-cap-guide/.
More reading on Player11
Player11's editorial coverage extends to captain picks, points math, salary cap planning, state eligibility, and live matchup analysis. The captain matrix is published every Saturday morning. The salary cap desk is published alongside the captain matrix. The state eligibility map is updated whenever a state-level notification is published on the MeitY online gaming registry.
Reading-desk letters: [email protected]. Captain picks: /captain-picks-guide/. Salary cap: /salary-cap-guide/. State eligibility: /is-player11-legal/. Predictions: /predictions/.