How to Play Draft Fantasy Cricket
In Draft Fantasy Cricket, you compete head-to-head with friends to claim the best players before they do. Every player can only be picked by one person — making every pick a strategic decision.
What Is the Snake Draft Format?
CricketDream uses the snake draft — the fairest draft system in competitive fantasy sports. Pick order rotates each round like a snake: if you pick 3rd in round 1, you pick 3rd-from-last in round 2. Over the full draft, this gives every participant a fair share of early picks.
How to Set Up a Draft Game
- Go to Draft in the navigation and click Create New Draft
- Choose the match you want to draft for and set squad size (5–11 players)
- Set a time limit per pick (30–120 seconds) and max number of participants
- Share your unique invite link or room code with friends
- Once everyone joins, the host clicks Start Draft
- Pick when it's your turn — clock's ticking!
Captain & Vice-Captain
After the draft, assign a Captain (2× points) and Vice-Captain (1.5× points) from your drafted squad. The captain choice is often the difference between first and fifth. Pick an all-rounder or an in-form opener who is likely to play a big innings in the match.
Draft Strategy Tips
- Rank your targets before the draft starts — know your backup for every pick before the timer begins
- Always check the playing XI — picking a player who doesn't play is a wasted slot
- Balance bat and ball — all-rounders cover both disciplines from one squad slot
- Block opponents strategically — if they need a bowler, taking a bowler they'd want hurts their team even if you don't need it
- Draft for consistency in multi-match formats — in Multi Draft (across multiple matches), prefer players who score reliably over boom-or-bust stars
Play vs Rish — the AI Draft Opponent
No friends available? Draft against Rish, CricketDream's built-in AI opponent. Toggle vs Rish when creating a game — it starts instantly, no waiting.
Rish is designed to be a genuine challenge, not a pushover:
- Playing XI aware — once the XI is announced, Rish only drafts confirmed starters. No bench-warmers.
- Recent form weighting — before XI drops, Rish checks each player's recent appearances and ranks players who are regularly featuring higher than those on the fringes.
- Role balanced — Rish always ensures its squad has the right mix of WK, batsmen, all-rounders and bowlers.
- Never the same team twice — Rish remembers what it picked against you and deliberately avoids repeating the same squad, so every rematch is fresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a snake draft in fantasy cricket?
A snake draft is a format where pick order reverses each round. If you pick first in round 1, you pick last in round 2, then first again in round 3. This balances the advantage of early picks.
How many players do I draft in CricketDream Draft?
The squad size is set by the room creator — typically 5 to 11 players per squad. Each player can only be claimed by one participant, so if your friend picks Virat Kohli, you cannot.
Can I change my captain after the draft ends?
Yes — you can change your captain and vice-captain from your drafted squad at any time before the match cutoff (when the playing XI is locked).
What happens if a drafted player doesn't play?
If a player you drafted does not appear in the playing XI, they score 0 points. This is why checking the playing XI announcement (30–60 minutes before toss) is critical before locking your captain.
Who is Rish and how smart is the AI opponent?
Rish is CricketDream's AI draft opponent. When Playing XI is announced, Rish only picks confirmed starters. Before XI is announced, Rish factors in each player's recent match appearances to favour players likely to play. Rish also deliberately avoids picking the same team against you twice, so every rematch feels different.
Ready to draft?
Challenge friends with an invite link — or take on Rish for a quick solo game.