How Fantasy Cricket Changed How We Watch the IPL

It’s the final over of a high-stakes IPL match—10 runs needed off 6 balls. Every decision, every delivery, and every player on the field matters. Then, a mistimed shot, a strategic miscalculation, and the match is lost. As a fan, you can’t help but think, what if a different player had faced this over? 

Fantasy cricket has redefined how we experience the IPL, transforming spectators into strategists. No longer just an observer, you analyze player form, pitch conditions, and match dynamics to build the perfect team. Features like “Power Play Mode” introduce real-time decision-making, allowing users to adjust their fantasy squads mid-game—mirroring the tactical calls made by captains on the field. 

What started as a niche interest in 2008 has now become a multi-billion-dollar industry, redefining fan engagement. The fantasy sports industry is valued at $37.28 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $71.24 billion by 2030, growing at an impressive CAGR of 13.83%. This explosive rise reflects how fantasy cricket has revolutionized the way we experience the IPL—making it more interactive, analytical, and rewarding than ever before.  

In this blog, we'll explore how fantasy cricket has reshaped our relationship with the IPL and cricket as a whole, turning casual viewers into strategic players and redefining the way we experience the game.  

History of Fantasy Cricket 

Fantasy sports took off with American football long before it reached cricket-loving nations. Fantasy football, which started in the 1960s, allowed fans to draft real players onto virtual teams and earn points based on their actual game performances. Over time, it grew into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with leagues, analytics, and dedicated platforms enhancing user engagement. 

In the early 2000s, fantasy cricket followed a similar path when ESPN-Star Sports introduced the Super Selector, where fans could build teams and score points based on real player performances. The winners of this fantasy cricket league received huge prizes like trips to cricket capitals of the world and an opportunity to commentate on cricket matches.  

The real shift came in 2008 with the Indian Premier League (IPL). The fast-paced T20 format made cricket more engaging than ever, and fantasy cricket took off. Fans could create teams, track player performances in real-time, and compete throughout the tournament. Dream11, launched in 2008, played a key role in making fantasy cricket mainstream in India. Initially, the concept was hard to explain, but creative ad campaigns like “Dimaag Se Dhoni” (2018) and “#KheloDimaagSe” helped simplify it, using MS Dhoni’s strategic thinking as a hook. 

These campaigns, combined with the rise of affordable smartphones and high-speed internet, fueled massive growth. India’s fantasy sports market was valued at $28.98 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $72.06 billion by 2030 (CAGR 13.9%). Cricket dominates, making up 85% of the market. Dream11’s strategy and IPL’s popularity turned fantasy cricket into a national craze. 

Like fantasy football, fantasy cricket soon became big business. Startups flooded the space, and as the industry grew, major platforms acquired smaller ones, driving rapid expansion. Today, fantasy sports are an essential part of fan engagement, blending technology, strategy, and the thrill of the game. 

How Fantasy Cricket Changed Cricket Watching 

Fantasy cricket has transformed fan engagement by giving users a sense of ownership and control over the game. Selecting their own teams makes fans feel actively involved, creating a deeper connection with the sport. Additionally, the widespread availability of smartphones and affordable internet has made fantasy cricket easily accessible. With over 600+ million smartphone users, cheap data plans allow fans to engage with their teams anytime, anywhere, further fueling the sport’s popularity. 

1. Enhanced Engagement 

Fantasy cricket apps have turned viewers into active participants. Instead of merely watching matches, fans now have a stake in the game's outcome through their virtual teams. This heightened engagement has led to a more immersive viewing experience. 

2. Increased Knowledge and Analysis 

To succeed in fantasy cricket, players need to analyze player performances, pitch conditions, and team strategies. This has led to a more informed and analytical viewer base, enhancing the overall understanding and appreciation of the sport. 

3. Multi-screen Experience 

Fantasy cricket has popularized the concept of second-screen viewing. Fans often watch matches on television while simultaneously managing their fantasy teams on smartphones or tablets, creating a more dynamic viewing experience. 

4. Extended Engagement 

The involvement in fantasy cricket extends beyond match days. Users spend time researching, creating teams, and participating in discussions, thereby prolonging their engagement with the sport. 

5. Social Aspect 

Fantasy cricket has added a social dimension to cricket watching. Fans create leagues with friends, family, or colleagues, fostering friendly competition and enhancing the communal aspect of cricket viewing. 

6. Widened Scope Beyond Cricket 

Fantasy cricket has expanded its reach beyond traditional international matches to include a diverse range of cricket formats—domestic leagues, T20 tournaments, and even lesser-known fixtures. Platforms like FanCode, with its extensive sports collection, exemplify this evolution by offering fans the chance to engage with not just cricket but also other sports like football, basketball, F1 and kabaddi. This broadening of scope has made fantasy gaming a year-round activity, appealing to a wider audience and deepening fans’ connection to sports overall. 

The IPL Effect on Fantasy Cricket Apps 

Fantasy cricket has reshaped the way fans engage with the game, with multiple platforms competing for dominance. Among them, Dream11 stands out as the undisputed leader, followed by emerging platforms like My11Circle, MyTeam11, and Fan2Play. Here’s a closer look at their unique offerings: 

1. Dream11 – The Market Leader 

Dream11 transformed  fantasy cricket by becoming the title sponsor of the IPL in 2020, replacing Vivo in a ₹222 crore ($29.7 million) deal. This strategic move significantly boosted its brand recognition, leading to an 80% increase in app downloads during the IPL season. The app also continues to release blockbuster ads during the IPL season, as seen by their recent ad released yesterday. At the time of writing, this ad has garnered over 1.1 crore viewes on YouTube alone.

The partnership cemented Dream11 as the go-to fantasy sports platform in India, allowing it to amass over 200 million daily users. 

Other growth drivers include: 

• Association with top cricketers like M.S. Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah as brand ambassadors. 

• A ₹250 million daily payout, making it the highest-paying fantasy sports platform in India. 

• Custom contests and high-stakes games that attract millions of users during the IPL season. 

2. My11Circle – Cricket-Focused & High Rewards 

My11Circle, owned by Games24x7, gained massive traction through its aggressive marketing campaigns featuring Sourav Ganguly and, more recently, Shubman Gill. The platform heavily invested in IPL advertising, leading to a 38 Million views on Youtube, 60% increase in new sign-ups during the tournament. 

Key Growth Insights: 

• Over ₹1 billion distributed in winnings to date. 

• Unique “Beat the Expert” challenges featuring cricket legends. 

• No withdrawal limit, making it attractive for serious players.

3. MyTeam11 – Multi-Sport & Multi-Language 

MyTeam11 capitalized on the IPL’s massive reach with its “Ab Poora India Khelega” campaign, launched ahead of the Indian T20 season. The campaign emphasized inclusivity, highlighting how fantasy sports are no longer limited to just hardcore cricket fans but are now accessible to everyone across India. By focusing on regional engagement, the brand saw a 20% spike in active users during the IPL season. 

Key Growth Insights: 

• The company says that it saw a rise of 3x-3.5x during the 2020 IPL tournament, and it is hoping to see a similar response this year with the new campaign.  

• The platform boasts a user base exceeding 18 million,expanding accessibility with Hindi and regional language support to cater to India’s diverse audience. 

• Shikhar Dhawan’s association amplified social media engagement and brand reach. 

• Instant withdrawal options, making the platform more appealing to users. 

4.  BalleBaazi

BalleBaazi has emerged as a notable player in India's fantasy sports industry, offering a diverse range of gaming options that cater to various sports enthusiasts. The platform's strategic marketing initiatives and innovative features have significantly contributed to its growing popularity. 

Key Growth Drivers: 

• In 2020, BalleBaazi launched the #DumHaiTohYahanKhel campaign featuring brand ambassador Yuvraj Singh. The digital film, conceptualized by Edelman India, showcased Yuvraj motivating sports fans to join him on BalleBaazi.com. The campaign resonated with the audience, achieving close to 1 million views. 

• The platform recorded over 1 million active users during the 2023 Indian Premier League season, driven by the introduction of new formats like Fantasy Wars and Stats Fantasy. 

• It rebranded itself as SportsBaazi to show its dedication to improving the sports landscape in India. 

The Future of Fantasy Cricket and IPL Viewing 

As we look to the future, the synergy between fantasy cricket and IPL viewing is set to grow stronger. The recent IPL 2024 season saw fantasy sports platforms collectively generate a staggering $510 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), marking a 27% year-on-year growth.

The rise of fantasy cricket has fundamentally altered how we engage with the IPL and cricket as a whole. It has transformed passive viewers into active participants, enhanced our understanding of the game, and created a new dimension of social interaction around cricket. As the lines between virtual and real cricket continue to blur, the opportunities for brands to leverage this engagement are enormous. 

For businesses looking to tap into this burgeoning market, platforms like Zupotsu offer invaluable insights and strategies to navigate the world of sports marketing. Whether you're a startup looking to make your mark or an established brand seeking to enhance your presence in the cricket ecosystem, the fantasy cricket revolution presents unprecedented opportunities for growth and engagement. 

Zupotsu is a martech platform on a mission to ‘digitize’ sports marketing. It enables the discovery, engagement, and evaluation (the ‘DEE’ framework) for every sports and esports marketing asset. Please sign up at www.zupotsu.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Reach out at ‘marketing@zupotsu.com’ for any queries.