Fantasy cricket has become a thrilling way for fans to engage with the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, building a winning team requires more than just luck—it demands strategy, analysis, and a deep understanding of the game. In this blog, we’ll break down the key strategies and patterns you can use to create a high-performing fantasy cricket team for IPL 2025, especially on flat, batting-friendly pitches.
If you’re playing fantasy cricket on Dream11, building your team the right way for these conditions can make a huge difference. So, let’s break it down in the simplest way possible.
Key Secret Tips for Fantasy Cricket Success
- Focus on Low-Selection Players
Always include 2-3 players with a selection percentage between 0% and 30%. These underrated players can give you an edge when they perform well, as fewer users will have them in their teams. - Impact Players Matter
While the impact player rule caused some confusion in previous seasons, it’s still crucial to identify players who can make a significant difference in the game. Look for players who can contribute with both bat and ball. - Avoid Overcrowded Captain Picks
If everyone is picking Virat Kohli or Jos Buttler as captain, consider choosing an all-rounder or bowler instead. This unique captaincy pick can help you stand out in grand leagues. - Choose In-Form, Underrated Players
Many users overlook players who are in good form but aren’t as popular. These players can be game-changers for your fantasy team. - Use Multi-Entry Strategy
Create multiple teams (10-20) based on different patterns and strategies. This increases your chances of hitting the right combination. - Monitor Toss and Pitch Reports
Always check the toss result and pitch conditions before finalizing your team. If dew is expected, prioritize batsmen from the chasing team. On slow pitches, focus on spinners and lower-order batsmen.
What is a Batting-Friendly Wicket?
A batting-friendly wicket is a pitch where:
- The ball comes nicely onto the bat.
- There’s very little help for bowlers (especially spinners).
- High scores like 180-220+ runs are common.
- Boundaries are easy to hit.
- Powerplay overs are crucial for big runs.
If a match is being played on a flat pitch or a small ground, chances are it’s going to be high-scoring.
Now, let’s talk about how to build your team for these matches.
3 Winning Strategies for Batting-Friendly Pitches
On these pitches, batting is easy, so you need a team that focuses on top-order batsmen, all-rounders who can hit big, and bowlers who can still pick wickets despite the run-fest.
Here are the three best team-building patterns that work on batting-friendly wickets:
- Top-Order Attack – When openers and No. 3 batters dominate.
- Middle-Order Power Strategy – When finishers take charge.
- Death Over Destruction – When the last 5 overs decide everything.
Let’s break them down one by one.
1. Top-Order Attack Strategy
When does this strategy work?
Pitch is flat, and the ball is coming onto the bat easily.
Openers and No. 3 batsmen are in form.
The team batting first is likely to score 200+ runs.
Bowlers are getting smashed, and wicket-taking looks difficult.
How to build your team for this?
| Position | Players to Pick |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeeper (1) | A top-order batsman who also keeps wickets (e.g., Buttler, Ishan Kishan, de Kock) |
| Batsmen (4-5) | Pick aggressive top-order players (e.g., Kohli, SKY, Gaikwad, Warner) |
| All-Rounders (1-2) | Who can hit big and bowl a few overs (e.g., Hardik, Livingstone) |
| Bowlers (3-4) | Death-over specialists & part-time spinners |
Captain Choice: No. 3 batsman (e.g., SKY, Williamson, Kohli)
Vice-Captain Choice: Opener (e.g., Gaikwad, Buttler)
Read More About- How to Build a Dream11 Team for High-Scoring Matches
Example Team for This Strategy
- Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler
- Batsmen: Kohli, Salt, Ruturaj, Rinku Singh
- All-Rounders: Russell, Livingstone
- Bowlers: Chahal, Hazelwood, Harshit Rana
- Captain: Kohli
- Vice-Captain: Buttler
Why this works?
- On flat pitches, top-order batsmen get more deliveries and score more points.
- Bowlers struggle, so picking too many bowlers isn’t useful.
- If you get the captain/vice-captain right, you can win big.
2. Middle-Order Power Strategy
When does this strategy work?
The pitch is good for batting, but early wickets can still fall.
The first 3 batsmen score decently, but the real hitting starts later.
Finishers like Rinku, Russell, and Miller come in and take the game away.
Death-over bowlers also get wickets as batters go for big shots.
How to build your team for this?
| Position | Players to Pick |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeeper (1) | A middle-order batsman-keeper (e.g., Pant, Karthik) |
| Batsmen (3) | 1 Top-order + 2 Middle-order players (e.g., SKY, Rinku, Miller) |
| All-Rounders (3) | Finishers who bowl too (e.g., Maxwell, Russell) |
| Bowlers (4) | Death-over bowlers & spinners |
Captain Choice: Middle-order batsman (e.g., Rinku, Miller)
Vice-Captain Choice: All-rounder (e.g., Maxwell, Russell)
Example Team for This Strategy
- Wicketkeeper: Rishabh Pant
- Batsmen: Kohli, Rahane, Rinku
- All-Rounders: Russell, Livingstone
- Bowlers: Chakaravarthy, Hazelwood, Bhuvneshwar
- Captain: Russell
- Vice-Captain: Rinku
Why this works?
- If openers fail, middle-order players get more points.
- Finishers get the strike at the right time to hit big shots.
- Death-over bowlers always get 1-2 cheap wickets.
3. Death Over Destruction Strategy
When does this strategy work?
- First 15 overs are normal, but the last 5 overs are explosive.
- Lower-order batters hit big shots but also lose wickets.
- Death-over bowlers get 3-4 wickets in the final overs.
How to build your team for this?
| Position | Players to Pick |
|---|---|
| Wicketkeeper (1) | A lower middle-order keeper (e.g., Dhoni, Jitesh) |
| Batsmen (3) | 2 Top-order + 1 Lower-order hitter (e.g., Tim David, Riyan Parag) |
| All-Rounders (2) | Who bowl in death overs (e.g., Hardik, Sam Curran) |
| Bowlers (5) | 4 Death-over bowlers + 1 spinner |
Captain Choice: Death-over bowler
Vice-Captain Choice: Lower-order hitter
Example Team for This Strategy
- Captain: Bumrah
- Vice-Captain: Shivam Dube
Why this works?
- Lower-order hitters score quick runs in the final overs.
- Death-over bowlers always get wickets in the slog overs.
Final Winning Strategy
- Rotate Patterns: Use these three patterns to create multiple teams. At least one pattern will hit every 2-3 matches.
- Prioritize Death-Over Specialists: Bowlers and all-rounders who perform in the final overs are crucial.
- Unique Captain Picks: Choose low-selection players as captain or vice-captain to maximize points.
- Update Teams Post-Toss: Always adjust your team based on the toss result and pitch report.
- Be Patient: Stick to your strategy, even if it doesn’t work immediately. Patterns repeat over time.
Final Thoughts
By following these strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of winning in IPL fantasy leagues. Remember, success in fantasy cricket requires a mix of analysis, patience, and smart decision-making. Use these patterns, stay updated with match conditions, and most importantly, enjoy the game!
