Bonus
Bonus codes and welcome offers, plainly explained
A reader-first explainer of how fantasy cricket welcome bonuses work, what the small print usually says, and what is genuinely worth chasing.
How welcome bonuses work
Most fantasy cricket platforms in India run a welcome bonus when a new reader deposits for the first time. The bonus is usually structured as a percentage of the deposit, capped at a maximum amount, and tied to a minimum wagering or contest-entry threshold before any withdrawal is allowed.
The percentage, the cap and the wagering threshold differ by platform. We do not invent those numbers. We describe the typical structure so the reader can read the operator's own terms page with confidence.
What the small print usually says
- Minimum deposit amount, usually between ₹100 and ₹500.
- Bonus percentage, usually 50% to 100% of the first deposit.
- Maximum bonus cap, usually ₹500 to ₹5,000 depending on the platform.
- Wagering or contest-entry threshold, usually a multiplier of the bonus amount.
- Expiry window, usually 7 to 30 days from the date the bonus was credited.
- Withdrawal restrictions on the bonus portion until the threshold is met.
What to check before using a bonus code
A welcome bonus is a financial product, even when it reads like a freebie. Three things to confirm in the small print: the wagering threshold, the expiry window, and the list of contests that count toward the threshold. Some operators restrict bonus usage to practice contests; others restrict it to paid contests above a certain entry fee.
The desk's habit is to read the terms page on the operator's own site before depositing. The bonus code itself is a string of characters entered at signup or first deposit; the value is in the terms, not the code.
Editorial position on chasing bonuses
Bonuses exist to attract deposits. They reward a reader who would have deposited anyway and would have played 30 contests in the next 30 days. They do not reward a reader who deposits only to chase the bonus and then withdraws immediately. The wagering threshold and the contest restrictions will usually make that path uneconomic.
Read the terms, deposit only what you would have deposited anyway, and treat the bonus as a small buffer rather than as income.
Fantasy cricket is for adults only. Bonuses are tied to deposits. Set a deposit limit before you play, and walk away after three straight losses.
Responsible playRelated reading
What this page covers, in long form
A second pass through the topic with extra context, examples and the small habits the desk uses on its own teams.
Insight 01
Surface over form
The single biggest input to any fantasy cricket decision is the playing surface, not the recent form table. A dry Chepauk turner rewards a different XI than a flat Chinnaswamy track, and a green Mohali morning changes the captain pick again. Reading the pitch report the night before the toss is the highest-use habit a fantasy reader can build.
Insight 02
Captain over eleven
The captain pick is worth more than the eleven. A captain who scores 40 with two boundaries earns 96 fantasy points before any milestone bonus; the same innings from a non-captain earns 48. The captain multiplier is where most of the season's variance is decided, and the captain pick should be made after reading the surface, not before.
Insight 03
Bankroll beats picks
The desk's strongest readers win not because of better captain picks but because of better bankroll habits. A fixed stake per contest, three small contests instead of one big one, and a hard stop after three straight losses are the boring habits that keep readers in the contest long enough to learn.
A note on ownership
Ownership percentage is the most under-used input on a fantasy desk. In a large contest, the captain should rarely be the most-picked player. A captain who is owned by 8% of the contest and who fits the surface gives you a swing; a captain who is owned by 60% gives you no differential. Track ownership through the season, not just at the start.
Five reads the desk returns to
Articles, columns and references the desk keeps open in a browser tab through the season.
Match report
MI edge CSK in a 19-over chase
The desk's read on Tuesday's Wankhede fixture and what it means for the rest of the week.
Captain pick
Captain pick of the day
The 4-factor reasoning for tonight's captain pick: surface, form, match-up, role.
Pitch report
Chepauk reading: dry top, slow turn
What the surface looks like 90 minutes before toss, and the fantasy angle.
Team preview
Mumbai Indians: a rebuild on a flat deck
A new opening pair and a death-over reshuffle.
Three things to carry into the next page
A short reading-end summary for the desk's match-day readers.
1
The surface is the input
Read the pitch report before you read the line-up. The surface dictates the captain pool more reliably than the recent form table. A dry turner and a flat deck are different games; treat them as such.
2
The captain is the output
Pick the captain after the surface, form and match-up all point one way. If they do not point one way, pick the differential. The captain pick is the single biggest source of variance in any contest.
3
The bankroll is the discipline
Fixed stake per contest, three small contests instead of one big one, walk away after three losses. The boring habits are the ones that keep winners in the contest long enough to learn.
Editorial reminder
IPL Fantasy Score is an editorial publication. We do not run a paid fantasy platform; we publish coverage. The desk's habit is to describe the captain logic in plain language and let the reader decide. We do not promise winning teams. We publish reasoning.