Pick a player whose role guarantees touches
Openers face a guaranteed number of balls; death-over bowlers bowl a guaranteed quota. Avoid captaincy on all-rounders who may sit out a phase.
Open the captain hub →
Fantoss editorial · Today
Fantasy cricket, read like a Saturday paper.
Pick teams with intent. Build lineups the way a captain reads a pitch — toss, surface, weather, opposition match-ups, then a captain call. Fantoss is the editorial desk for everyday Indian fantasy players who want fewer surprises and more honest wins.
LIVE
MI vs CSK
142/4 · 14.2 ov
RR 9.82 · need 51 in 34
UPCOMING
RCB vs KKR
7:30 PM IST
Bengaluru · clear
FORM
Top fantasy pick
S. Yadav · 612 pts
Captain rating 9.2
CONTESTS
Today's prize pool
₹2.4 Cr
From 14 matches
01
Why Fantoss
An editorial desk for fantasy cricket, not a casino window.
Fantoss writes for readers who treat fantasy cricket as a skill format — pitch reads, salary-cap math, captain discipline, contest-bankroll control. No fake bonuses, no animated casino glow, no borrowed glamour. Just verified facts and clear reasoning.
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Today · ₹1 contest
Start with a rupee. Build a habit, not a habit of chasing.
Fantoss opens its lobby with a ₹1 entry contest so a beginner can read a match without risk. The same contest teaches the four moves every captain eventually learns — read the pitch, set the salary cap, pick the captain, manage the bankroll.
Recommended
₹1 starter contest
Single-match entry, full XI, captain & vice-captain. Perfect for the first ten lineups.
- Entry: ₹1 · First contest free for new accounts
- Prize pool scales with entries
- Top 20% win real cash via verified UPI
Step up
Grand leagues
Multi-entry contests with deeper payouts and the same scoring. For readers who already know their captain call.
- Entry: ₹10 to ₹500
- 1st prize in marquee contests crosses ₹10 lakh
- Pick multiple XIs to spread variance
Prize pool varies by contest. Real-money contests are 18+ and subject to state rules.
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Editorial hub
Fantasy Cricket, read end-to-end.
A single editorial hub covering what fantasy cricket actually is, how the scoring works, where the format was born and how a beginner should approach a paid contest for the first time.
Hub · 12 sections
Fantasy cricket explained
Skill format, salary cap, captain multiplier, contest types, withdrawals, GST — everything in one read.
Read the hub → Predictions · DailyMatch predictions & win probability
Pitch reads, toss impact, weather, head-to-head form, probable XI and a confidence rating you can quote.
See today's predictions → Tips · 18 rulesCaptain picks & differentials
Eighteen working rules for choosing captain, picking differentials, reading ownership and managing risk.
Open the tips hub →04
Live desk
Today's predictions, drafted at 9 AM.
A working prediction brief written by a single editor, then re-read by a second. Confidence is marked as confidence, not certainty. The desk updates notes in real time when the toss lands or weather shifts.
Today · 3 fixtures
MI vs CSK — toss key
Dew expected after 7 PM. Expect the side batting second to push hard; captain pick will favour a middle-order anchor.
Read the brief → Today · 5:30 PMRCB vs KKR — venue notes
Bengaluru square turner — spinners should dominate middle overs. Watch the powerplay workload for the openers.
Open match brief →05
IPL 2026
The full tournament, framed for fantasy players.
IPL 2026 starts in late March. Every squad, every venue, every captain pick by surface — Fantoss treats the league as a working dossier, not a hype reel.
Schedule
Full IPL 2026 fixture list
74 regular-season matches, 10 franchises, four venues to watch for fantasy bowlers.
View the schedule → SquadsVerified 2026 squads
Every franchise squad, overseas slots, auction buys and form carry-over from the previous season.
Open team pages → PlayersTop fantasy names for IPL 2026
The 50 players you will see in 80% of fantasy XIs this season — captain rating, splits, injury status.
Browse players →06
The Fantoss app
Built for the moment between toss and first ball.
The Fantoss app opens fast on a 4G phone, lets you copy a published team in two taps and runs the captain switch in under a second. The editorial desk writes for what the app actually does.
What you get inside
- Lobby in under a second. Match list, contest types and prize pool all load on a 4G phone without a skeleton screen.
- Lineup builder with live salary cap. Type a player, watch the cap update; captain & vice-captain with a long press.
- Live points feed. Points refresh after every over; the captain multiplier is highlighted in the score card.
- Wallet & withdrawals. UPI binding, PAN verification and instant withdrawal requests after a contest settles.
- Editorial notifications. Optional: pick a team or tournament, get the desk's brief 30 minutes before toss.
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How to play
Build a winning team in seven moves.
Fantoss how-to-play is written as a single sitting — open it once and your first lineup is done before the toss. The seven moves below are the same ones a working captain uses.
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Pick the match you actually know.
Open the lobby and start with a fixture you have watched twice this season. Familiarity beats selection skill in the first ten contests.
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Read the Fantoss pitch brief first.
Surface, weather, dew and toss — these decide captain choice more than form. The brief is one tap from the match card.
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Pick seven players from the playing XI.
The captaincy multiplies the score of two of them; the other five carry the salary cap. Pick seven, not eleven, because the bench does not score.
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Stay inside the salary cap.
The cap mirrors real-world auction economics — pick two stars, three value picks and two differential choices who can outscore their salary.
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Choose captain (2x) and vice-captain (1.5x).
The captain call is the highest-leverage decision in the lineup. Default to a player whose role guarantees touches — an opener, a death-over bowler or a designated finisher.
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Pick a contest that fits your bankroll.
Beginners should sit at ₹1–₹10 contests until the scoring system stops surprising them. Read the rules, the prize pool and the entry cap before joining.
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Watch the match on the Fantoss scorecard.
Live points update after every over. Watch the captain's multiplier work and note the picks that underperformed — that is the only fantasy education worth having.
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Scoring
The Fantoss points system, line by line.
Fantoss uses a points system that rewards every cricket action — runs, boundaries, wickets, catches, stumpings, run-outs and economy bonuses. Read it once and your selection decisions start to make more sense.
| Action | T20 | ODI | Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run scored | +1 | +1 | +1 |
| Boundary (4) | +4 | +4 | +4 |
| Six | +6 | +6 | +6 |
| Half-century | +8 | +4 | +4 |
| Century | +16 | +8 | +8 |
| Wicket (excl. run-out) | +25 | +20 | +16 |
| LBW / Bowled bonus | +8 | +8 | +8 |
| Maiden over | +4 | +2 | +1 |
| Catch | +8 | +8 | +8 |
| Stumping | +12 | +8 | +8 |
| Run-out (direct hit) | +12 | +8 | +8 |
| Duck (batter /wk) | −2 | −3 | −4 |
| Captain multiplier | ×2 | ×2 | ×2 |
| Vice-captain multiplier | ×1.5 | ×1.5 | ×1.5 |
Final scoring may adjust with the match format. Always re-check the rules tab inside the contest before locking your team.
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Captaincy
The captain pick is the highest-leverage call in any lineup.
Fantoss multiplies the captain's points by two and the vice-captain's by 1.5x. A wrong captain call can swing your contest position by 50 ranks. Read the rules, then read the pitch.
Use ownership as a check, not a directive
If the obvious captain is in 60% of lineups, you need a reason to pick them, not a reason to avoid them. Differential captaincy has to be backed by match-up data.
See the captain rules →10
Contest formats
Match the contest to your edge.
Fantoss runs five contest families. The format you choose changes how the lineup is read. Pick the contest your selection style is built for, not the contest with the biggest prize pool.
₹1 practice contests
Single match, free first contest, paid entries from ₹1. Built for first-time players who want the scoring system explained in real money.
Head-to-head
Two players, one winner. Pairs well with a confident captain call or a heavy-differential lineup.
Grand leagues
Thousands of entries, top 20% paid. Wins are large but variance is high. Multiple entries help; ownership discipline matters more.
Winner-take-all
Single winner takes the prize pool. Avoid unless your captain pick is anchored in match-up data and you are willing to miss by one rank.
Private contests
Build a contest with friends or office colleagues. Invite codes live in the lobby under "Private Room" — no platform fee.
Series contests
Multi-match scorecards across a series. Captain choice rotates; long-format averages matter more than per-match volatility.
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Live
Today's live matches and in-play notes.
Fantoss tracks live matches in real time — scorecard, fall of wickets, captain multiplier, economy bonus triggers. The match brief stays open in a side panel so you can re-read the toss logic when the dew settles.
Wankhede · 142/4 after 14.2
Sky batting with 62* off 38. Spin introduced at the 9-over mark; expect the run rate to drop until the 17-over mark.
Open live brief →RCB vs KKR · Bengaluru
Square turner expected. Spinners should dominate middle overs; pick three frontline bowlers from the squad sheet.
Open match brief →12
Comparison
Fantoss vs the typical fantasy app.
A short, honest comparison on the points that matter — contest entry floor, withdrawal speed, editorial support, KYC friction. We mark what is verified and what we still need to confirm.
| Dimension | Fantoss | Typical fantasy app |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner entry | ₹1 contest · free first lineup | ₹5–₹25 entry floor |
| Editorial desk | Daily briefs, captain picks, venue reads | Generic articles, recycled tips |
| Captain multiplier | 2x captain · 1.5x vice-captain | 2x captain · 1.5x vice-captain |
| Withdrawal | UPI within minutes after PAN verify | UPI / bank — 30 min to 24 hr |
| Bonus code | Verified welcome + reload offers | Variable; verify expiry carefully |
| State restrictions | Surfaced clearly inside the app | Usually hidden in T&Cs |
| KYC friction | PAN + Aadhaar OTP — under 5 min | PAN + photo ID — 10–15 min |
| Editorial notifications | Optional, per-tournament | Marketing-led by default |
Comparison is editorial, not a paid endorsement. Specific feature claims (withdrawal time, KYC friction) are what Fantoss itself publishes — verify in the in-app help before joining paid contests.
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Winners
Verified winners, real payouts, no stock photos.
Every Fantoss winner story is verified against the published contest ledger. Names are first-name only unless the winner opts in. The team selection is shown exactly as it scored — including the captain call.
Aditya P. · Bengaluru
Won ₹50 lakh on a 50-paise entry. Captain pick was an uncapped all-rounder whose role in the XI was the most mispriced on the night.
Read the winner story →Priya R. · Mumbai
Beat 800 opponents with a head-to-head room she ran for her college society. Captain pick was the death-over specialist.
Read the winner story →Vikram S. · Hyderabad
Picked the eventual player-of-the-tournament as captain in six of eight matches. Variance, not genius.
Read the winner story →14
Responsible play
Fantasy cricket is a skill format — treat it like one.
The best captain call you make is the one that protects your bankroll. Fantoss builds responsible-play tools into the app and the editorial desk writes for adults who treat fantasy cricket as a hobby.
Deposit limits
Set daily, weekly or monthly deposit caps inside the wallet. The app enforces the limit even if you try to raise it during a session.
Open responsible play →Time-outs & self-exclusion
Pause your account for 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days or longer. Self-exclusion blocks login, contests and notifications for the chosen period.
Open responsible play →15
Wallet & KYC
Verify once, withdraw freely.
PAN verification is mandatory for withdrawals above ₹10,000 under Section 194BA. Aadhaar OTP is optional but speeds up the first withdrawal. Bind a UPI ID that matches the name on your PAN to avoid reversal.
PAN verification
Open the wallet, choose Verify PAN, type the 10-character number, confirm the name. Verification completes in under a minute on a stable connection.
Open the KYC guide →Bind UPI
Use a UPI ID that matches your PAN name exactly. Mismatches trigger a manual review and can delay withdrawals by 24–48 hours.
Open the KYC guide →16
Read by topic
Fantoss editorial, indexed.
A small, deliberate editorial map. Pick the desk closest to the question you actually have.
Hub
Fantasy Cricket
The format, the rules, the salary cap and how a beginner should approach a paid contest.
HubPredictions
Pitch reads, toss impact, weather and a confidence rating you can quote.
HubFantasy Tips
Eighteen working rules on captaincy, differentials and bankroll discipline.
HubTeams
Every IPL 2026 franchise: squad, form, fantasy relevance.
HubPlayers
Top fantasy names — captain rating, splits, injury watch.
HubNews
Daily Fantoss news: IPL moves, transfers, press-conference reads.
HubIPL 2026
Full schedule, squads, venue notes, captain picks.
HubLive Matches
Today's fixtures, in-play notes, momentum reads.
HubWinners
Verified winner stories and the team selections that worked.
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Latest from the desk
Recent guides and editor's notes.
A working reading list. Older pieces are kept in the archive because fantasy-cricket fundamentals do not expire; newer pieces are framed against the current fixture list.
News · 4 min read
IPL 2026 auction tracker — Day 1 highlights
The buys that change your fantasy XI: surprise releases, base-price steals and the squads we are now watching harder.
Open the recap → Guide · 9 min readThe captain pick cheat sheet
Twelve rules that beat ownership bias, with worked examples from the last IPL season.
Read the rules → Winner story · 6 min readHow a 50-paise entry picked up a ₹50 lakh payout
The team selection, the captain calls and the contest format that turned a ₹1 ticket into a five-crore house.
Read the winner story →18
FAQ
The questions readers ask the Fantoss desk most.
Twenty years of editorial reading distilled into the answers a working fantasy player needs in the first week.
Is Fantoss legal in India?
Fantoss operates under the skill-gaming exemption that most Indian states follow. A handful of states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Odisha, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu — confirm the latest list with the desk) restrict paid fantasy entries. Always check your state rules before joining a paid contest.
How much does it cost to enter a Fantoss contest?
The Fantoss lobby starts at ₹1 for single-match contests, with paid formats scaling up to ₹500+ for marquee leagues. New accounts get a free practice contest before any deposit is required.
What is the captain multiplier on Fantoss?
The captain's points are multiplied by 2x; the vice-captain's by 1.5x. A wrong captain call typically swings your rank by 50–80 positions in a grand league, which is why most of the editorial desk writes about captain choice rather than team selection.
How are Fantoss winnings withdrawn?
Winnings move to your verified wallet and can be withdrawn via UPI or bank transfer after PAN verification. Withdrawals above ₹10,000 attract TDS at 30% under Section 194BA; below that, no TDS is deducted.
Can I delete my Fantoss account?
Yes. Open the in-app profile, choose Delete Account, complete the verification step (last withdrawal confirmation) and your account is closed within 7 working days as required by the DPDP Act 2023.
Does Fantoss publish verified contest ledgers?
Fantoss publishes contest ledgers (entry count, prize distribution, winner list) for marquee leagues inside the lobby. Winner stories on the Winners hub cite the contest ledger directly.
How do I contact Fantoss customer care?
In-app help is the fastest channel — open Profile → Help. Email and verified support social handles are listed on the Customer care page. The editorial desk does not handle wallet or KYC queries.
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Open the Fantoss app and start with a rupee.
Verified welcome bonus on your first deposit · Free practice contest for new accounts · 18+ only · Subject to state rules.