Fantasy cricket contests explained
Head-to-head, small leagues, mega contests, practice contests and the newer formats. A complete reference to every contest structure you will encounter on the major fantasy cricket platforms.
Head-to-head (H2H)
One-versus-one contests. You and one opponent submit teams; the higher-scoring team wins the entry pool minus commission. H2H contests reward pure skill ranking because there is no luck-of-the-draw involved.
Entry fees on H2H contests range from ₹10 to ₹1,000+. Commission is typically 10 to 15 percent of the entry pool. The expected value of any single H2H contest is determined entirely by whether your team selection is better than your opponent's.
Small leagues (3 to 11 entries)
Small leagues are the cleanest test of skill for small groups. Top 50 percent typically pays. Entry fees start at ₹10 and run into the thousands. The variance is small because the sample size is small.
Mid leagues (100 to 1,000 entries)
Mid leagues balance skill and variance. Top 25 to 30 percent typically pays. Entry fees are similar to small leagues but with larger total pools. The rank distribution is more spread out; rank 1 takes a disproportionate share.
Mega contests (1,000 to 100,000 entries)
Mega contests are the marquee contests on every fantasy platform. Top 0.5 to 2 percent of the field typically wins. The variance is high; the expected value depends on consistent skill across many contests, not a single big win.
Mega contests reward differential captaincy. The same team that finishes top 30 in a 100-entry small league might finish 15,000th in a 100,000-entry mega contest with the same player performance.
Practice contests (free entry)
Practice contests offer free entry with the same points rules but no cash prizes. They are the cheapest way to learn captaincy, experiment with combinations and see whether your reads on a match-up were correct.
Other formats
Some platforms offer specialised formats: winner-take-all (top entry takes the entire pool), second-chance (top 10 percent get a free entry to a follow-up contest), and guaranteed contests (prize pool is funded by the platform, not by entries). The desk maintains a comparison on the bonus code page.
Frequently asked questions
Which contest size is best for beginners?
Free practice contests for the first 5 to 10 matches, then small leagues with ₹10 to ₹50 entries. Move to mid leagues once you have a consistent top-30 percent finish rate. Avoid mega contests until you have at least 20 matches of experience.
What's the difference between guaranteed and standard contests?
Standard contests fund the prize pool from entry fees; if the contest does not fill, the prize pool is reduced. Guaranteed contests fund the prize pool from the platform; the prize pool is paid out regardless of fill rate.
How does commission affect my expected value?
Commission is the platform's cut of the entry pool. A 15 percent commission on a 100-entry ₹10 contest means ₹850 is paid out and ₹150 is the platform's commission. Higher commission means lower expected value for players.