Fantasy cricket sounds complicated until you play it once. Then it's addictive. This guide explains everything a beginner needs — from how points work to how to build your first team and actually win.
What Is Fantasy Cricket?
Fantasy cricket is a game where you pick real cricketers to form a virtual team. When those players perform in a real match — scoring runs, taking wickets, making catches — your fantasy team earns points. The better your players perform, the higher you rank on the leaderboard.
On CricketDream, there are three ways to play with friends: Fantasy XI (pick your own 11), Draft (compete with friends to claim players), and Multi Draft (draft once, compete across a full series). All formats are completely free — no entry fees, no monetary transactions of any kind.
Step 1: Understand How Points Work
- Every run scored = 1 point
- A fifty (50+ runs) earns a bonus of 15 points
- A century (100+ runs) earns a bonus of 30 points
- Each wicket taken = 25 points
- 3-wicket haul bonus = 15 points, 5-wicket haul = 25 points
- A catch = 10 points, a stumping = 10 points, a run-out = 10 points
- Strike rate above 170 earns extra points; below 60 loses points
- Economy rate below 5 in bowling earns extra points
Step 2: Pick 11 Players
Your fantasy XI can have any combination of batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, and a wicketkeeper. There's no fixed rule on how many of each — but a balanced team of 4 batsmen, 1 wicketkeeper, 2 all-rounders, and 4 bowlers is a solid starting point.
Always include at least one wicketkeeper — they earn bonus points for every dismissal behind the stumps, on top of their batting points.
Step 3: Assign Captain and Vice-Captain
Your Captain earns 2× their actual points. Your Vice-Captain earns 1.5× points. This is the most important decision in fantasy cricket — picking the right captain can double your lead over a friend or close a 50-point gap in one match.
- Pick a batsman who opens or bats at No. 3 — they face the most balls
- An in-form all-rounder is an excellent captain — two chances to score big
- Avoid captaining a specialist bowler unless the pitch is very bowling-friendly
- Check the match venue — high-scoring ground? Go with a batsman captain
Step 4: Check Playing XI Before Locking In
The most common beginner mistake: picking a player who doesn't play. Always check the official playing XI announcement (usually 30–60 minutes before the toss) and update your team before the match cutoff.
Step 5: Track Your Score
Once the match starts, CricketDream updates fantasy points live. Watch your score go up every time your players hit boundaries, take wickets, or take catches. After the match completes, the leaderboard updates with final scores.
Which Format Should Beginners Start With?
- Start with Fantasy XI — build your team, pick captain, see how points work in one match
- Once you're comfortable, try a Draft game with 2–4 friends for a more competitive edge
- When a series starts (e.g. a full T20I series), try Multi Draft — draft once, compete across all matches
Ready to build your first team? It takes less than 2 minutes.
Build Your First Fantasy XI →