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We are a country that certainly loves our cricket and during the annual cricketing extravaganza known as the IPL, the country’s cricketing fever does tend to reach extremely high levels. Everyone has their own favourite team and for two months, all other loyalties are forgotten, be it to the national team or to a player who happens to play for another team.
The IPL season is a dreaded time for fans of football and other sports as that is the only thing played on television screens while everything else is ignored.
Since the IPL fever has already hit the country and nothing can be done about it, we might as well help people indulge in their beloved sport while they are travelling, waiting for their team to start playing or even looking to just pass some time.
Also read: 5 best alternatives to EA Cricket for cricket lovers in the IPL season
Here, we list out five cricket games one can download off the PlayStore which provide a wholesome cricketing experience during the IPL.
#1 Gujarat Lions T20
The official game of the Rajkot-based franchise, the Gujarat Lions T20 game lets you play with the entire roster of the Intex technologies-owned side. Made by Indian gaming giant Zapak, this T20 game allows you to play in Premier Tournaments and the Indian League with the eventual aim of becoming the cup winner in India
The game is available for free download on the Play Store and gives an authentic cricket playing experience with advanced features like Ultra Realistic 3-D which ensures lifelike animation of the stadium and the stands.
The unique features of this game include the ability to play with real players like Lions’ skipper Suresh Raina and additional powerups like Vampire Bat and Spring Bat to clear the boundaries more often.
If the going gets tough while bowling, one can also make use of powerups like SuperFast ball and Fire Ball to break opposition defences making it an engrossing game to play.
#2 Big Bash 2016
The Big Bash League is one of the most popular T20 tournaments in the cricketing world. With stars like David Warner and Steve Smith taking part, the Big Bash League has built a global fan base that is second only to the IPL.
The Big Bash 2016 T20 game is Cricket Australia’s official mobile gaming offering for cricket fans throughout the world. Fully licensed by all clubs and the League itself, it allows you to play the Big Bash League and the Women’s Big Bash League and take your club to glory.
The mobile cricket game has three difficulty modes in increasing order and two game modes – the Quick Play which allows you to play a quick two overs, and the Full Match mode where you can play the entire twenty overs. The success and entertainment factor of the game is evidenced by the fact that it has more than 40,000 5-star ratings on the Play Store.
#3 RCB Star Cricket
Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore have made a habit of chasing highly unrealistic targets with the batting prowess of players like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle. This official offering by RCB allows users to use this batting firepower and recreate some of the most exciting run chases by the Bangalore outfit.
The game offers the chance to chase down more than 60 different targets and lets users play with Kohli and other superstars supporting the skipper in his exploits.
The gameplay is pretty average where one has to just tap the screen in the desired direction of the shot. To make it a wholesome cricketing experience, the game also features 3D stadiums and accurate player models.
Gamers who succeed in chasing down targets and top leaderboards also get the chance to win goodies like bats signed by their favourite RCB stars. Monthly leaders will also get RCB kits while the all-time top scorer over the course of the IPL season will get the chance to meet some RCB superstars in person.
#4 T20 Premier League ‘17
Another offering by Zapak, the T20 Premier League ‘17 is another game aiming to capitalise on the cricket fever prevalent in the country. Featuring all the IPL team cities, this game provides a realistic recreation of the IPL format and the teams in it.
Several modes of play included in the game are the “Quick Match” mode which is a one-off T20 game and the “Challenges” mode where one has to get the opposing team out below a certain score or chase down an intimidating target.
T20 Premier League ‘17 also features the tournament mode where a gamer can play an entire T20 tournament modelled on the IPL with the team of his choice and lead them to the top of the pyramid.
#5 The Stick Cricket series
The Stick Cricket series has long been associated with mobile and online gaming. The game is designed in such a way that it allows you to select a team and play with a cricketer of your choice in that team.
Not restricted to the IPL, Stick Cricket allows gamers to choose teams from Australian and Indian Leagues. The only drawback is that it does not allow users to bowl but only chase down targets which get tougher as the team progresses into the latter stages of the tournament.
The makers of this online cricket game have also tried to add an element of realism to the game by including options to buy iconic players which include the who's who of international cricket. Also included is the option to hire coaches to improve performances on the pitch and if the going gets really tough, you can also fix matches using the in-game match fixer, “John the Bookmaker”.
