IPL Fantasy 2018: 4 things to keep in mind while picking your XI

Cricket is a religion in India, with everyone having an opinion on all the players and teams. But now that Fantasy Cricket has made its presence in the country, a more scientific approach while forming your favorite Fantasy XI can go a long way in helping you rule the roost.

Which fantasy game are you playing this year? StarPick is the new game on the block, and it has a lot of exciting features along with millions in prize money. You can create your StarPick team here.

Fantasy games are a relatively new concept in cricket that have grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years. Here, I'll list some do's and don't that could serve you well this IPL season:

#4 Perseverance

Perseverance is the key while playing Fantasy Cricket

Before we dive into the technical aspects of team formation, the basic tenet of being a successful Fantasy League player is to have loads of patience and persistence. There will be days when nothing will go right but as is with life, you can test your nerves in times of adversity.

Many people quit after one indifferent day at the office, while some grit it out - and that is what tends to separate the men from the boys.

There may be bleak periods for your team, but constant perseverance and constant improvements in your strategy and game-plan will surely reap rewards in the long run.

#3 Keeping track of the probable playing XI of both sides

Keeping track of the playing XI is very important

Perhaps the most important requirement when it comes to team formation is keeping track of the availability of the players from both sides.

With a squad as big as an average IPL franchise boasts of, and with just four overseas players to select in the playing XI, teams tend to try out different combinations that might suit them at a particular venue (more on this later).

So even if you're busy throughout the day, focus on the lineups because that could be the real deal breaker.

#2 Pick only top order batsmen

The top 3 rule the roost in T20 Cricket

It's no secret that the top 3 batsmen rule the roost in T20 cricket; their probability of making a significant contribution to a team's total is far greater than that of middle and lower order batsmen.

Hence, there's no point in opting for a batsman who comes too late into the innings and has only a handful of balls to face. Even picking a No. 4 batsman is risky in the event of a strong opening partnership.

The bottom line: it is always advisable to go for the top 3 batsmen from either side.

#1 Picking death overs specialists and wicket-keepers wisely

Pick death bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah wisely

It doesn't really matter whether you take Virat Kohli's wicket or a tailender's wicket, because at the end of the day, a bowler getting a wicket fetches the same points irrespective of the batsman in question. Hence, it is advisable to opt for death overes specialists who can chip in with a few wickets at the back-end of the innings.

MS Dhoni - one of the most celebrated wicket-keepers in IPL history

A wicketkeeper batting in the top four is like gold. Not only can he contribute via his wicketkeeping skills, but as a top order batsman, his batting would give you an extra edge over your competitors.

This is why wicketkeeper-batsmen like Robin Uthappa, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock etc. are so valuable.