Fantasy Cricket Points System: How Scoring Works (2026)

Understanding how fantasy cricket points are calculated is the foundation of every winning strategy. If you do not know what actions earn points and how much they are worth, you cannot make informed decisions about which players to pick, who to captain, or how to balance your squad. This guide breaks down the complete scoring system used across major fantasy cricket platforms in 2026, with a focus on T20 formats like the IPL.

Batting Points

Batting is the primary source of fantasy points for top-order players. Here is how runs translate into points:

• Runs scored: 1 point per run. A player who scores 45 earns 45 base batting points.
• Boundary bonus: +1 point for each four, +2 points for each six. A 45-run innings with 5 fours and 2 sixes earns 45 + 5 + 4 = 54 points before milestones.
• Milestone bonuses: +10 points for reaching 25 runs, +20 points for reaching 50 runs, +30 points for reaching 100 runs. These are cumulative on SportGodAI, meaning a century earns 10 + 20 + 30 = 60 bonus points total.
• Duck penalty: -5 points for being dismissed for 0 (applies only to batters who face at least one ball). This makes wicket-keepers and lower-order batters risky picks when they are not in form.

Strike Rate Bonus/Penalty (T20 Only)

Strike rate matters in T20 fantasy. Platforms reward aggressive batting and penalize slow scoring:

• SR above 170: +6 bonus points
• SR 150-170: +4 bonus points
• SR 130-150: +2 bonus points
• SR 60-70: -2 penalty points
• SR below 60: -6 penalty points

Strike rate bonuses/penalties typically apply only when a batter faces a minimum of 10 balls. This protects lower-order batters who face 2-3 balls at the end of an innings from being unfairly penalized.

Bowling Points

Bowling points reward wicket-taking ability and economy. A bowler who takes wickets and concedes few runs earns significantly more than one who is expensive, even if they take a wicket or two.

• Wickets: 25 points per wicket. This is the single most valuable action in fantasy cricket. A 3-wicket haul earns 75 base points plus bonuses.
• Wicket milestone bonuses: +10 for 2 wickets, +20 for 3 wickets (effectively a 3-for earns 75 + 10 + 20 = 105 points before economy adjustments).
• Maiden overs: +12 points per maiden. In T20 cricket, maidens are rare and extremely valuable.
• Dot balls: +1 point per dot ball. A bowler who bowls 4 overs with 14 dot balls earns 14 points from dots alone.

Economy Rate Bonus/Penalty

Economy rate bonuses are applied based on runs conceded per over across the full spell:

• Economy below 5.0: +6 bonus points
• Economy 5.0-6.0: +4 bonus points
• Economy 6.0-7.0: +2 bonus points
• Economy 10.0-11.0: -2 penalty points
• Economy 11.0-12.0: -4 penalty points
• Economy above 12.0: -6 penalty points

Economy bonuses apply only when a bowler bowls a minimum of 2 overs. This prevents a bowler who bowls one dot ball from earning the maximum economy bonus.

Fielding Points

Fielding points reward catches, stumpings, and run-outs. While they represent a smaller portion of total points, they can be the difference in close contests:

• Catch: +8 points per catch
• Stumping: +12 points per stumping
• Direct hit run-out: +12 points
• Indirect run-out (thrower): +6 points
• 3+ catches in a match: +4 bonus points

Wicket-keepers have a natural advantage in fielding points because they are involved in stumpings and catches behind the wicket. This is one reason keeper-batters like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are premium picks: they earn batting points AND fielding points consistently.

Bonus Points

Several bonus categories reward exceptional individual performances:

• Player of the Match: +25 points on some platforms. Not all platforms award this, so check your specific league rules.
• Starting XI bonus: +4 points simply for being selected in the playing XI. This is standard on most platforms.
• Being in the match: All players selected in the announced XI earn starting points regardless of whether they bat or bowl.

Captain and Vice-Captain Multipliers

The captain and vice-captain selections are the most important decisions in fantasy cricket. Their multipliers amplify whatever points the player earns:

• Captain: 2x multiplier on all points earned. If your captain scores 60 points, you receive 120.
• Vice-Captain: 1.5x multiplier on all points earned. If your VC scores 60 points, you receive 90.

This means your captain effectively counts as two players in terms of points impact. A captain who scores 80 points (160 after multiplier) can single-handedly carry your team. Conversely, a captain who scores 10 points (20 after multiplier) torpedoes your chances even if every other pick fires.

Platform Comparison: SportGodAI vs Dream11 vs Others

While the core scoring principles are similar across platforms, there are key differences:

• SportGodAI uses an AI-optimized points system that weighs match context more heavily. Economy bonuses and strike rate bonuses are slightly higher, rewarding players who perform well under pressure.
• Dream11 uses a standardized T20 scoring system that is the industry benchmark. Their points are broadly similar to SportGodAI with minor differences in bonus thresholds.
• My11Circle and MPL use variations with different milestone thresholds and fielding point values. Always check the specific platform rules before building your team.

Regardless of platform, the fundamental principle holds: pick players who score runs, take wickets, and maintain good economy/strike rates. Use SportGodAI's fantasy analysis tools to calculate expected points for every player in every match, taking the guesswork out of team selection.

How to Use Points Knowledge in Team Building

Understanding the points system changes how you build teams. A batter who scores 40(35) earns fewer fantasy points than one who scores 40(22) because of the strike rate bonus. A bowler who takes 1-15 in 4 overs earns more than one who takes 2-45 in 4 overs because economy offsets raw wickets. Build your teams with these nuances in mind, and you will consistently outscore opponents who pick on name recognition alone.