Every year, since 2008, cricket fans worldwide eagerly anticipate the next instalment of the Indian Premier League. This makes the Indian Premier League, which runs between March and May, the most popular twenty20 cricket league in the world. It is also ranked as the sixth most attended sports league overall. The IPL tournament sees eight teams having to bat for 20 six-ball overs in the shortest and most thrilling of cricket’s three formats. Adding to the excitement is the fact that each team has a logo that reflects the true spirit of the Indian Premier League tournament.
With all of this in mind, it is only natural to want to get your sports betting skills sharpened so that you too can see which bets of the Indian Premier League are worthy of making. As you can imagine, the competition is fierce and brings a lot of fun and excitement, as well as lots of opportunities to bet. However, before you can start betting, you must freshen your knowledge of the IPL. Having a broader knowledge base means that you can have the edge over other punters, as well as the bookies. You’ll also be better prepared if you know which Indian Premier League you’re going to bet on. Besides match winner bets, there are markets like total wickets, top batsman, total runs, and total boundaries. In this Indian Premier League, we’ll also provide you with the league team and player history so that you know which selections have the most potential.
Top Indian Premier League betting markets
We’ll start on a reverse pyramid structure in this guide, by first introducing you to the type of betting markets you’ll likely encounter in this league. Since the league only runs for seven weeks, it’s during this time that you can bet on sixty Indian Premier League cricket games. The tournament is, therefore, quite busy, and there’s always some match action to get in on. Most of the tips mentioned in this guide will help you place some profitable bets on several markets. Some of the most popular bets include:
- Match betting – The day-by-day Indian Premier League matches have fierce competition and frenzied betting action. Betting on the match winners can be the easiest way to start an Acca bet. Teams like the Mumbai Indians might attract lower odds but are almost sure to win their opening matches.
- Top bowler – The top bowler or Indian Premier League purple cap winner is another potentially lucrative betting market. Pat Cummins, who was the most expensive player in the 2020 auction, is a great example. You should also look out for the first bowlers in the team, as they have the chance to take more wickets at the start of the game when batters are taking more risks.
- Top batsman – Another potentially profitable betting market is the top run-scorer or Indian Premier League orange cap winner. We recommend that you stick to the opening partnership for this bet, as they are the only two players that are guaranteed to be able to bat the whole match. They also have a chance to bet in the Indian Premier League batting powerplay, where it’s easier to score runs.
Other betting markets
Apart from the purple and orange caps, IPL players receive the following awards based on their performances at the end of every season.
- Most sixes award – The batsman who hits the most number of sixes during the whole Indian Premier League season gets a Maximum Sixes Award. In 2019, this award was won by Kolkata Knight Riders player, Andre Russel.
- Most valuable player – This was previously referred to as the Man of Tournament Award. It is awarded to a player who makes the most individual contribution to his team’s success.
- Player of the match (final) – This is similar to the ordinary Man of the Match award but given to the player who performs well in the final of Indian Premier League. To win the bet, you, therefore, have to predict the teams that’ll be in the final and the player who’ll win. In 2019, this award was won by Mumbai Indians player, Jasprit Bumrah.
Indian Premier League games
As with any sports betting, it’s all about knowing more about the game. The IPL is played in a double round-robin format, where eight teams play back-to-back matches. The teams play one match at their home ground, then the other in their opponent’s city. Two points are awarded to a winning team’s Indian Premier League score, and one point is shared for a no-result outcome. The top four teams from the first sixteen games progress to the Indian Premier League playoffs. The two teams on the Indian Premier League standings face each other in the first qualifier, and the winner gains automatic entry into the tournament final. The losing side survives to meet with the winner from the elimination match between the third and fourth-ranking teams. If any two teams are in a tie, their standing on the Indian Premier League points table is determined by the Net Run Rate (NRR). The NRR is the average number of runs that a team scores per over compared to the same average from the other side.
Indian Premier League teams
Thirteen teams have played in the IPL since it was established in 2008. Of these teams, the Mumbai Indians have won four times, making them the most successful team in league’s history in terms of the number of titles won. They currently hold the title, after beating the Chennai Super Kings by just one run in the 2019 Indian Premier League final. The Chennai Super Kings have won three times, the Kolkata Knight Riders have won twice, and the Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have won once each. The teams that are often seen in the Indian Premier League are:
Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians are the strongest team in the IPL after wins in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. After winning every other year, they seek to make their first win in an even year.
Rajasthan Royals
The Rajasthan Royals won the first tournament in 2008. They haven’t managed to win another title since then. They have been caught in legal issues and a ban for two years, which took a hit at their form. They finished 7th in 2019 and are looking for a chance to redeem their lost glory.
Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings are the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League. Apart from winning the tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2018, they were runners up in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019. Chennai Super Kings have never finished below 3rd place in the history of the IPL.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The RCB has arguably the best batting line-ups but consistently fails to deliver the best results. They’ve been at the bottom of the Indian Premier League table in 2019 and 2017. The next seasons hold a lot of hope for them, as they try to improve their planning and strategy to take their maiden title.
Hyderabad Sunrisers
Hyderabad’s Sunrisers won a title in 2016 and continued on a strong campaign the following years, becoming runners up in 2018. They have some great players and might be able to take their second title in the 2020 Indian Premier League.
Punjab Kings XI
The Punjab Kings used to be a force to be reckoned with, but have fallen to the bottom half of the IPL standings for the past six seasons. They managed to be the runner-up in 2015, which was their best performance. They might be able to repeat the same feat and end their dry spell in future Indian Premier League games.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders are one of the favourites to win the Indian Premier League, having been the champion in 2012 and 2014. They, however, only managed a lowly fifth-place finish in 2019, with reports of problems amongst players. Kolkata has a young team that can be exciting to watch and can cause an upset here and there.
Delhi Capitals
The Delhi Capitals changed their name from the Delhi Daredevils in 2019. They’d been perennial losers but managed to turn the tide to secure a third-place finish. They are looking to maintain the momentum and win their first title in upcoming Indian Premier Leagues.
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Indian Premier League players
According to the IPL rules, each team can obtain players in three ways. They can bid for players at an annual auction, buy from other teams during the trading windows, or sign up replacements for any of their players who become unavailable. The best Indian Premier League players sign up for the auction and set their starting price if they are not already signed in the two trading windows before the auction. If a player does not get successful bids, they can be signed as replacement players in the final trading window after the auction. Each team in the IPL must have between 18 and 25 players, with eight or less being from overseas. The player retention rule also allows teams to keep several players from their previous season. However, players from Pakistan haven’t participated in the league for the past ten years. From the eight overseas players, only four can be included in the playing eleven. Knowing these Indian Premier League rules is vital to your ability to adapt your betting strategy in case of unforeseen circumstances. Some players to look out for in the Indian Premier League 2020 edition include:
- MS Dhoni: Plays for Chennai Super Kings and has a lot of experience and batting power. MS Dhoni is also an excellent wicket-keeper and, therefore, a good option for both high scores and wickets.
- Chris Woakes: Is a World-Cup-winning all-rounder who plays for the Delhi Capitals. He can cause huge upsets both as a bowler and batsman.
- Chris Gayle: Plays for Kings XI Punjab and is one of the best twenty20 batmen. The Caribbean player is almost guaranteed to be one of the top batsmen.
- Pat Cummins: Was the most expensive overseas player. The Kolkata Knight Riders is an excellent bowler who is a contender for the IPL top bowler spot.
- Rohit Sharma: Was the captain for the Mumbai Indians when they won the 2019 Indian Premier League. He’ll be looking to get enough runs to lead his team to another victory.
- Ben Stokes: World-class all-rounder who plays for the Rajasthan Royals.
- Virat Kohli: Currently plays for the Royal Chargers Bangalore and is considered the best batsman in the world.
- David Warner: Plays for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and won the 2019 Indian Premier League Orange Cap for scoring the most number of runs. He’ll be looking to repeat this feat in 2020.
Underrated players in the Indian Premier League
The IPL also has a lot of upcoming players who can make explosive debuts and provide significant wins to punters who’d have backed them. Not being in the public eye also puts less pressure on these players, giving them more space to perform. As part of your research, you should find these players and analyse the strengths that make them the best candidates for various Indian Premier League betting markets. Lendl Simmons, Sidharth Kaul and Mohit Sharma are some players who’ve made great debuts. You can watch out for these next players to make striking performances in the 2020 Indian Premier League. A few mentions include Alex Carey, Tom Banton, Chris Green, Chris Jordan and James Neesham.
Indian Premier League 2020
The 2020 Indian Premier League is the thirteenth season and is also known as IPL 13, or Vivo Indian Premier League. Just like every year, there’ll be eight teams vying for the title. The player auction was held in December 2019, and some big signings took place. The Indian Premier League schedule was moved, but fans are sharpening their betting skills to make the most of this stellar betting opportunity. The IPL will also allow both the teams and punters to prepare strategies for the Twenty20 World Cup.
Indian Premier League live betting
Live betting on the IPL Indian Premier League enables you to bet on a cricket match in real-time. You can use your research to take advantage of fluctuating odds and cash out at the earliest profitable moment. In addition to its financial potential, live betting on the Indian Premier League provides a thrilling experience that’ll keep you on your toes throughout the tournament. An excellent example of how in-play prices can fluctuate and provide you with the chance to make the most money is the 2013 close tie between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils.
Bangalore, which was second on the Indian Premier League table standings were favoured to win, with odds of 1.61. Delhi was at the bottom of the league and had 2.25 odds. Delhi were first to bat and hit 152 for 5. The match ended up going into a Super Over, shortening the odds for a Delhi win. Bangalore went on to win, but punters who’d already cashed-out at the shortened odds had made a good return. You should also make sure to choose betting sites that’ll provide you with visualisations through game streaming and Indian Premier League live scores to help you make better bets.
Strategies to apply to the Indian Premier League
The IPL provides punters with lots of new opportunities to win on each match day. Knowing where and when to place your bets is the key to making a profit. There are several ways to gain the upper hand when you’re betting on the Indian Premier League, so you need a solid betting strategy. This way you can utilise the knowledge you’ve gained to make sensible wagers. We’ve outlined the most essential aspects in the following sections of our Indian Premier League guide.
Find the Best Indian Premier League betting odds
Before anything, you should first find the right bookie for your needs. No betting strategy regardless of how good it is will suffice without the right betting platform. Fortunately, we’ve compiled plenty of reviews for the various bookies. We aim to assist you in finding one that has the best odds when it comes to bets for the IPL. Why are betting odds important? Well, in layman’s terms, you need to know how much money you are likely to get back when you place a bet.
Some bookies might show you odds of 2/1 meaning that for every £1 you bet, you get £2 back. While others might have betting odds of 3/1, making that extra £1 difference. In other instances, especially for odds on selections, you are likely to see the reverse fractional odds e.g 2/5, meaning for every fiver you bet, you only get £2, making your stakes higher than your winnings. This clarifies why you need to first get a bookie with the best betting odds. Again, most punters often shop around or are signed up to more than just one sportsbook. This way you can check which online sports betting site is giving the best deal at the time when you want to place your bet. It’s like the adage of not putting all your eggs into one basket. You can also try to see if some betting exchanges are covering the Indian Premier League.
Set a betting budget
Granted it might seem a bit like we are offering redundant advice, but trust us, this is sound advice. Like everything in life, setting a budget ensures you are working, in this case, betting, within your means. All good gamblers always dish out this advice and for very good reason. When it comes to money, reason and rationale should reign over emotion and frustration. It also helps you stay clear of the gambling fallacy where you keep making bets based on the assumption that an event is likely or unlikely to happen just because it did so in the past. Since the Indian Premier League is played over a very short period, it is often packed with a lot of action and betting opportunities. It’s a good idea to have a plan on how you’re going to distribute your bets before the tournament starts.
Setting a budget will reduce your chances of having to borrow money to bet on the final rounds of the Indian Premier League after you’ve exhausted your bankroll. You might occasionally go through a losing streak in all the odds fluctuations. It, therefore, might be challenging to stay disciplined and adhere to your budget. You might be tempted to think that your good luck is now due and make larger bets to cover your losses. In such situations, it’s vital to stick to your staking plan and bankroll management. If your overall betting strategy is sound, you’ll soon get out from under the red. However, this discipline comes from knowing and accepting that sports betting is a game of chance, even if you are prepared with plenty of information. This means that losses occur, and so do wins. There is no 100% betting strategy that ensures consistent wins and your betting budget is not to be compromised by unreasonable and reckless betting.
Get to know the teams
It’s pointless to think that you’ll have a foolproof betting strategy by simply looking at what other punters are doing on Twitch of Youtube. Sure, you might enjoy the entertainment value of watching, but most of the information will probably be lost in the excitement or disappointment of each betting segment. Alternatively, not all Indian Premier League betting strategies need you to fork out a pretty penny to get the same advice we are offering for free. It boils down to this, If you don’t put in the time, then you aren’t likely to see many profitable results. Yes, we sound like mother-hen right now, but research into the Indian Premier League teams is paramount to your success. If you don’t know as many variables as possible, you’ll put a more significant proportion of your bet to guesswork, which rarely ends in a positive result.
Most of the other factors on the Indian Premier League, such as the grounds and weather are more or less similar each year. The outcome of most matches is determined by the teams. You, therefore, need to devote most of your research to increase your knowledge on the teams’ strengths and weaknesses, how they’ve changed in composition, and how they performed in previous tournaments. The easiest way to start is to review each of the team player’s twenty20 statistics. You can find comprehensive data on batting and bowling averages, as well as injuries and other factors. This information can help you predict any trends that might help you make accurate Indian Premier League bets. Team past performance is also an excellent indicator.
Focus on skilled players
The Indian Premier League attracts a wide range of skilled players, and knowing who stands out from the crowd will increase your chances of making more profitable bets. We’ve already gone through several players earlier in this guide. However, whatever you do, never underestimate the less-well-known players. If you do your research well, you might find some upcoming players with very high and profitable odds.
Where to watch the Indian Premier League live
When you think of betting on the Indian Premier League, your natural inclination is – where to watch the game? Surely all that research and planning must amount to more than just a good sports betting site with fair to great betting odds. Fortunately, we live in some pretty high tech times – ‘Yes, Alexa and Siri, what are the best platforms to stream and watch the Indian Premier League?’ Simple, you can watch the Indian Premier League from anywhere in the world on a laptop, iPad, smartphone or even a touch table. Alternatively, you can opt for traditional and watch it on TV. Star Gold is one of the more known broadcasters which air the game on Sky TV and Virgin Media.
The official site of the Indian Premier League also shows updated Indian Premier League live score for every game. You can also find highlights from matches that were played since 2012. There are also photos, schedules, venues, teams, and loads of stats. If you can’t or don’t want to watch the Indian Premier League on Star Gold, you can use the Hotstar streaming platform instead. The Hotstar platform is available on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. You’ll, however, have to pay a monthly or annual subscription fee and it comes with a range of Indian TV shows and movies as well as the cricket. YouTube is another excellent resource that can help you research your bets and raise your excitement for the tournament. Each team regularly posts training and interview videos on its official YouTube channel. You can also follow teams and players on their Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
Indian Premier League fantasy league
As a cricket fan, one of the best ways that you can get into some Indian Premier League action is through the fantasy league. The Indian Premier League fantasy league provides fans and punters with intimate participation in the tournament. The fantasy league allows you to create your own virtual Indian Premier League team based on real-life league players. While the league is meant to be solely for entertainment, players who consistently stay on top of the leaderboard stand to win a variety of prizes such as season tickets.
You, therefore, need a few tips and tricks up your sleeve to outwit other players and enjoy the alternative Indian Premier League experience. For you to get points and win in the fantasy league, the players that you select should perform well in the real tournament. This performance is concerning wickets taken, low economy rate, high strike rates, holding catches, number of boundaries and sixes hit, runs scored, and more.
Having to follow and be updated on player performance in the fantasy league can be a great way to research your player bets. It’s also an excellent way of learning about the back-end of the game—team management. At the beginning of the league, you’re given a budget, much like what real Indian Premier League managers start with. You’ll be required to put together a team according to the Indian Premier League rules regarding the player acquisition. If you want to win in the IPL Fantasy league, check out the 11Wickets app, which is free to play.
