How to play fantasy cricket on Indian platforms — the rules, the math, and where to start.
Player11's step-by-step guide to playing fantasy cricket on Indian platforms: pick eleven, fit under the cap, name a captain, lock before the toss.
The basics
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, fit under the cap, name a captain — but the multipliers, the role limits, and the bonus point weights quietly differ.
Player11 reads fantasy cricket as a research desk. We do not run a wallet. The steps below describe how the game works on the major Indian platforms.
The eight-step walkthrough
Sign up and complete KYC
Sign up on the platform of your choice, complete the KYC flow, and verify your payment method. Most platforms require a PAN card and a bank account or UPI ID.
Pick a fixture
Choose a real cricket fixture from the upcoming matches list. The fixture determines which player pool is available to pick from.
Pick eleven players under the cap
Select 1 wicketkeeper, 3-6 batsmen, 1-4 all-rounders, and 3-6 bowlers. The total credit cost must be ≤ 100. Most platforms highlight players who exceed the cap in red.
Name a captain and vice-captain
Tap the C badge on one player and the VC badge on another. The captain's points are multiplied by 2x; the vice-captain's points are multiplied by 1.5x.
Choose a contest
Head-to-head, league, mega league, or practice. Each contest has different rank logic. Choose the format that matches your contest strategy.
Lock your XI before the toss
Lineups lock at the official toss. Some platforms allow XI edits between sign-up and the toss — check the lock timer.
Watch the match
Players earn points in real time as the match progresses. Most platforms have a live points ticker.
Settle winnings
Winning lineups are credited to the platform's main wallet within 24 hours. Withdrawals are processed to the verified bank account or UPI ID.
Responsible play
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. Set a fixed monthly cap before joining your first contest, and read your state's eligibility on /is-player11-legal/.
FAQ — How to Play
Can I edit my XI after the toss? No. The lineup locks at the official toss. The only mid-match change allowed is the impact-player substitution.
What is the impact-player rule? Each team can substitute one player between the innings. The substituted player's points are added to your team's total.
What happens if I miss the lock? Most platforms keep un-submitted lineups on a draft state. The platform does not auto-fill your XI.
Designing the lineup
A lineup design starts with the captain pick. Spend the largest credit on the player who carries the captain badge; save the differential credit slots on the all-rounder and the specialist spinner. The middle-order anchors — Rahul, Pant — work as backups when the captain pick is a top-order batter. The death-overs specialists — Bumrah, Shami, Kuldeep — work as backups when the captain pick is an all-rounder.
Designing the bench
The bench slots matter inside the impact-player rule. Most platforms allow one or two bench spots; the impact-player substitution uses one bench slot. The best bench pick is a player who covers the role you cannot fill in the playing XI — a frontline spinner when your playing XI has only one spinner, a powerplay batter when your playing XI has only one powerplay anchor. Pick the bench with the same rigour as the playing XI.
Final tip: keep the lineup simple. The most successful XIs are the lineups that fit inside the cap without inventing positions. Read the captain matrix, fit the budget, lock before the toss, and watch the match.
Glossary of common terms
Captain badge. The label on the player whose points are multiplied by 2x. The most controllable swing inside a fantasy XI. The captain picks should be a high-floor player in a fixture where he is expected to bat or bowl for the full match.
Vice-captain badge. The label on the player whose points are multiplied by 1.5x. The vice-captain carries the captain's downside — if the captain fails, the vice-captain absorbs the swing.
Salary cap. The 100-credit budget for an XI. Pick 1 wicketkeeper, 3-6 batsmen, 1-4 all-rounders, and 3-6 bowlers without exceeding 100 credits.
Impact player. A substitute named at the toss, swapped in between innings. The impact-player rule allows one substitution per match on most Indian platforms.
Lock window. The 5-30 minute window before the first ball when XIs lock. Most platforms allow XI edits between sign-up and the lock; some lock at sign-up.
First-deposit tips
The first-deposit window on most Indian fantasy platforms carries the largest welcome bonus. Read the bonus terms before making the first deposit. The platform's KYC flow needs a PAN card and a verified bank account or UPI ID. Withdraw any future balance through the same UPI ID or bank account to keep the KYC flow clean.
If the platform offers a deposit match — for example, 100% up to ₹2,000 with a 3x wagering requirement — deposit the smallest amount that unlocks the match. A 100% match on ₹1,000 means ₹1,000 in bonus credits, plus the original ₹1,000 in main wallet. A 100% match on ₹10,000 means ₹10,000 in bonus credits, plus the original ₹10,000 in main wallet — but the wagering requirement triples to ₹30,000.
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