Reference
T20 fantasy points system, in one place
A reference table for the standard scoring used across most fantasy cricket platforms in India, with notes on the variations operators apply.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Run scored | +1 |
| Boundary bonus (4s) | +4 |
| Six bonus | +6 |
| 30-run milestone | +4 |
| Half-century milestone | +8 |
| Century milestone | +16 |
| Duck (batter, WK, all-rounder) | -2 |
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Wicket (excluding run-out) | +25 |
| LBW or bowled bonus | +8 |
| 3-wicket haul | +4 |
| 4-wicket haul | +8 |
| 5-wicket haul | +16 |
| Maiden over | +4 |
| Economy under 5 RPO (min 2 overs) | +6 |
| Economy 5-6 RPO | +4 |
| Economy 6-7 RPO | +2 |
| Economy above 10 RPO | -2 |
| Economy above 11 RPO | -4 |
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Catch | +8 |
| 3-catch bonus | +4 |
| Stumping | +12 |
| Run-out (direct) | +12 |
| Run-out (catcher / thrower) | +6 / +6 |
Captain and vice-captain
The captain multiplier is the single biggest swing
The captain earns 2x the points scored on the field. The vice-captain earns 1.5x. Picking the right captain is worth more than picking the right eleven.
A 50-ball 80 from your captain is 162 fantasy points before any boundary bonus. The same innings from a non-captain is 81. The captain pick is where most of the season's variance is decided.
The desk's rule of thumb: pick the captain from the surface that suits the player's strengths, and pick the differential captain when ownership in a large contest is already saturated.
Read the captain logic guide
Platform-by-platform variations
The numbers above are the standard T20 reference. Individual platforms tweak a few of them. Always check the operator's own scoring page before submitting your team.
| Action | Standard | Variation to check |
|---|---|---|
| Run | +1 | Rare, but some operators used +0.5 in older seasons |
| Wicket | +25 | Some platforms award +30 for bowled/LBW |
| Strike rate bonus | +2 / +4 | Bands differ by run rate (130+, 150+, 170+) |
| Economy bonus | +4 to +6 | Bands and minimum-over thresholds vary |
| Captain | 2x | Some operators introduced a 3x "Triple Captain" card |
| Duck penalty | -2 | Some operators exempt impact-player roles |
This table is editorial reference. We refresh it at the start of each season and after any operator rule change.
Common scoring mistakes
Six recurring errors the desk sees in submitted teams every week.
1
Captaining a tail-ender
The 2x only multiplies what is already there. Captain a top-order batter or a strike bowler.
2
Forgetting the duck penalty
Tail-enders carry a duck penalty that compounds if they are captain. Check the XI for at-risk players.
3
Ignoring strike-rate bands
Strike-rate bonuses on some platforms are worth 4-6 points. A 35-ball 40 scores differently from a 25-ball 40.
4
Over-stacking all-rounders
All-rounders are valuable but they rarely contribute in both innings. Two per XI is usually the ceiling.
5
Misreading the impact player rule
The named impact player at the toss can shift a player from batter to bowler in your XI. Confirm the role at lock.
6
Skipping the operator's own page
Operators update their scoring tables mid-season. The standard reference is a starting point, not the final word.
Related reading
Beginner
How to play fantasy cricket
A step-by-step beginner walkthrough from sign-up to your first team.
Build tonight's team with the desk
Read the points table. Read the pitch. Lock after the toss. Submit the team you can explain.
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.