Fantasy cricket is more than just a game—it’s a battle of wits, strategy, and a little bit of instinct. If you’ve ever watched your fantasy team falling apart on the scoreboard, you know how frustrating it can be. You start questioning every move: Why did I pick that player? Should I have trusted my instincts over the stats? The truth is, even the smallest mistakes can cost you big on the leaderboard.
But did you know these mistakes are avoidable?
Yes, you’ve heard that right!
In this article, we’ll explore the biggest mistakes fantasy cricket players make and, more importantly, how you can avoid them like a pro. We’ll also talk about how you can use a fantasy cricket prediction app called 11Wizards to help you build strong teams that are based on data and not human bias. By understanding these pitfalls, you’ll be able to optimise your team like a pro, boost your performance, and finally climb up those leaderboards. Let’s get started!
Mistake #1: Picking Players Without Prior Research
Many of us jump into team selection relying on player reputation or personal favourites. Sound familiar? Well, building your fantasy team without doing proper research can cost you big, and your fantasy teams may struggle to score well in most matches.
How to Avoid It?
Research Player Performance and Stats
Success starts with understanding your players.
Think about it: Would you trust a bowler who hasn’t taken wickets in their last five matches? Probably not. Instead, look at recent performances, strike rates, runs scored, and wickets taken.
Say you’re eyeing Hardik Pandya for your next fantasy match. While he’s a renowned all-rounder, if his recent form has been shaky, it’s worth considering an in-form replacement like a lesser-known player who’s been consistently delivering.
Dig into player stats from the last 3–5 matches. Look at runs scored, strike rates, wickets taken, and economy rates. Also, focus on players who deliver consistently, not those who pull off the occasional miracle. Trust the data to help you climb up in the fantasy leaderboards!
Assess Match Conditions
Match conditions can make or break your lineup. The pitch, weather, and venue are critical factors that influence performance.
- Pitches: A spin-friendly pitch, like the one in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, is a spinner’s paradise where you can pick spinners like Ravindra Jadeja or Yuzvendra Chahal. On the other hand, if it’s a bouncy pitch of Australia, you’ll want the big pacers like Jasprit Bumrah or Pat Cummins ready to make a big impact.
- Weather: Rain can shorten matches, making middle-order batters less effective, and power-hitters and bowlers with tight economy rates are your best bet.
Avoid Emotional Picks
How many times have you picked your favourite players for your fantasy cricket team without considering their recent performance? It could be someone from your favourite team or a big-name player that everyone loves. If you keep letting your emotions guide your picks, it can cost you in the long run.
Think about Kane Williamson. Although he has been one of the most valuable players in the past, he has not been in his best form recently. So, it is not a wise decision to consider him rather than picking a player like Rachin Ravindra, who has been showing impressive performance consistently.
Check the players’ recent form, fitness, and how well they match up against specific bowlers or batters from the opposing team. This simple yet powerful strategy can help you build a strong fantasy cricket team for each match!
Check the Toss Result
Finalising your fantasy cricket team before the toss is like going into a match blindfolded. The toss is a game-changer that decides who bats or bowls first, reveals the all-important team lineups, and helps you consider any toss-related trends to customise your picks and strategy.
Take the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup, where the toss proved to be a game-changer! Out of 45 matches played, the team that won the toss came out on top 30 times, reflecting a solid success rate of 66.66%. Although in the afternoon matches, the toss had slightly less impact, the evening matches highly favoured teams batting second, making the toss a crucial factor.
Since the team batting second cannot score more than the team batting first, middle-order batters from the team batting first are usually the better picks. They’re more likely to get ample time at the crease compared to middle or lower-order players in a chasing team, who may face fewer balls if the target is small.
Mistake #2: Captaincy Conflicts & Neglecting All-Rounders
The captain and vice-captain are your fantasy cricket team’s MVPs! These two players hold the key to major points, with the captain giving you 2x and the vice-captain offering 1.5x points. So, when you mess up here, you’re practically wasting your valuable fantasy points that could’ve been easily earned. But don’t worry, it’s easy to avoid this mistake with the right approach!
Related: How to Choose Captain and Vice Captain in Dream11
How to Avoid It?
Do Not Underestimate All-Rounders and Star Bowlers
All-rounders give you a two-in-one advantage. They contribute with both bat and ball (and sometimes fielding: think Ravindra Jadeja!), doubling your chances of earning points. For instance, on a slow, turning pitch, Ravindra Jadeja’s ability to pick wickets and score quick runs makes him an ideal captain.
Similarly, a match-winning performance by Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami, complete with wickets and an excellent economy rate, can outscore most batters and make them great choices for captain. Think about Mohammed Shami’s performance in the Word Cup 2023. In seven matches, Shami took 24 wickets at an average of just 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20, with a best haul of 7/57. Performances like these not only bring in huge wicket points but also economy rate bonuses, making bowlers excellent captaincy options.
Don’t Overlook the Vice-Captain
The vice-captain is just as important as your captain. A lot of fantasy users neglect their vice-captain and select a player without proper research. Consider every aspect of match conditions and player stats to choose your vice-captain wisely. Use the 11Wizards app to identify the top captain and vice-captain picks based on their form, the match scenario, and a lot more factors. Make the right choices, and your captain and vice-captain could take you straight to the top!
Mistake #3: Ignoring the Points System
The points system is the foundation of how your players earn points based on their real-life performances. Yet, many players skip this step, leading to poor team selection. Since point systems vary slightly across the fantasy apps, tailoring your team to the specific app you’re using can help you build a strong team.
How to Avoid It?
Understand how points are awarded for batting, bowling, and fielding. For example:
- Batting: Runs, strike rates, and milestones like half-centuries bring in points.
- Bowling: Wickets, economy rates, and maiden overs earn big.
- Fielding: Catches, run-outs, and stumpings can make a surprising difference.
On platforms where economy rates earn extra points, a bowler like Rashid Khan is worth considering in your fantasy team.
Mistake #4: Relying on Gut Feeling Over Data
While intuition has its place, relying solely on gut feelings often leads to risky decisions.
How to Avoid It?
The ultimate fantasy cricket companion app like 11Wizards takes the guesswork out of team selection. The app combines advanced predictive analytics with real-time data to help you create strong, data-backed lineups. Here’s how it helps:
- Identifies in-form players.
- Adapts to platform-specific scoring systems.
- Suggests team combinations and captain and vice-captain choices based on match conditions and historical data. Playing on UAE’s spin-friendly pitches? 11Wizards includes spinners for the best possible results.
- Generates multiple teams in one click, along with the option to customise strategy.
Conclusion
Fantasy cricket success requires strategy, research, and attention to detail. By avoiding common mistakes like neglecting player form, ignoring match conditions, or letting emotions influence your decisions, you can create stronger teams and significantly improve your chances of winning. Start using 11Wizards today to make smarter decisions and take your fantasy cricket game to the next level!
