Being a captain of a team in IPL is by far the most challenging job for any cricketer. The franchises who have pumped crores of rupees in the squads want results at any cost. The dark side of being an IPL captain is that franchises owners have their say much more than the coaches and the team players.
A cricketer or a captain does not hold a magic wand in his hand by which he can turn around the fortunes of a team in 2 months. When cricketers from different parts of the world come under one umbrella, it is very difficult to frame a right combination of players all the time.
However, in fantasy cricket, the user decides the captain of his team and the apps have designed in such a way that they provide extra points for the skipper. So, one of the key decisions is choosing the right captain for your team. A good captain can earn you bonus points and lead your team to victory.
Let us discuss some tips on how to choose a captain for your IPL T20 fantasy cricket team.
1. Keep your personal favouritism aside
Be honest to yourself and play like a professional. Keep your personal favouritism aside while choosing the captain for your fantasy cricket team. In India it is understandable that as a cricket fan, it is tough to compete with emotions as every supporter has their beloved player and their achievements excites them beyond measure. So, sentiments play a crucial role in cricket fanfare. However, cricket fantasy works differently and is completely a different ball game.
As soon as you sign up to play T20 fantasy league, it is advisable to keep your emotions for your favourite player aside and focus on data and logic to choose your team’s captain. Since you registered on fantasy platform to make money, decide a captain who can bring you more fantasy points than seeing him as your darling player.
2. What matters is a player’s recent form
One of the most significant factors to consider when selecting a captain for your fantasy cricket team is the player’s current form. Check out on how the captain-material player has performed in his last few matches, with bat, ball, and wicket-keeping. If his exhibition is consistent in the competition and if he is likely to continue his form for the rest of the tournament, then he is the right fit to lead your fantasy team and you can be hopeful of earning more points.
3. Look for multifaceted players
Multifaceted does not always mean an all-rounder. However, all-rounders have the upper hand in the game as they get two chances with batting and bowling to showcase their skills. But, selecting an all-rounder as captain does not guarantee your success in IPL T20 fantasy cricket. So, who is a multifaceted player?
Multifaceted player is the one who can change the fortunes at any stage of the game. A disciplined performer who can showcase his skills under pressure during the slog overs. He can be a top-order batsman with the advantage of facing more deliveries compared to others. So, look for players who can always add value to your team and bring bonus points for your fantasy team.
4. Check the pitch report and weather conditions
You might be wondering the relation between choosing your fantasy team’s captain and checking the weather and pitch conditions, right? As a cricket fan, you might be knowing that pitch report and weather conditions play a significant role in cricket. Hence, it is advisable to verify the weather and pitch conditions for the match before choosing a captain for your fantasy cricket team. Pick a captain who is good at batting if the pitch is batting-friendly. Likewise, if the pitch is helping the bowlers, then choose a captain who is a good bowler. As simple as that.
5. Consider your captain’s batting position
In T20 cricket, all the players will look to put up a good score on the board for the opposite teams. So, batters have an advantage over bowlers to showcase their skills and choosing a batsman as captain for your fantasy team is always a good idea as you can earn more points.
Like it is mentioned, the batting position of your team’s captain is a crucial factor. If he is a top-order batsman then he will get more opportunities to face more deliveries and score more runs. In turn it is more likely to bring more points to your T20 fantasy team and helps you win the contests.
6. Practice to study the sport and track the marquee players
Knowledge is power. So, try to accumulate as much information as you can by consuming sports diligently, as it is not easy to do all the necessary research at the eleventh hour. Especially, track the marquee players recent performances and study on how they are executing their skills in different playing conditions. Choose a captain who is a studious student of the game so that you will get benefitted through the fantasy points.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right captain for your IPL T20 fantasy cricket team is crucial to succeed and earn real cash rewards. So, consider following the above tips to increase your chances of winning big in fantasy cricket by selecting the right captain for your fantasy team.