How to bet on cricket: Betting guide for beginners and experts

Stop what you’re doing if you want to know how to bet on cricket because this is the only guide you need. As well as explaining how cricket betting odds work and the ways you can wager money, we’ve got the scoop on what the best Indian online sportsbooks offer. Add to this a selection of cricket betting tips, and this is the only guide you need if you’re a fan of runs, wickets, and hitting sixes.

🏏 How do cricket betting odds work?

Cricket betting odds are a bookmaker’s assessment of how likely an outcome is to occur. The shorter the odds, the less money you get back on a winning bet. The shorter the odds, the more confident a bookmaker is that the outcome is going to happen. 

For example, if India are assumed to be the favourites against England, the odds could be something like 2.0. To put this in fractional terms, decimal odds of 2.0 equate to 1/1 i.e. even money. If you wagered ₹100 on India at 2.0, you’d stand to win ₹200 (₹100 profit + ₹100 stake).

Let’s say India aren’t favoured as much. The odds, in this case, would be longer. Let’s say the odds are 4.0 (i.e. 3/1). The same ₹100 wager would return ₹400 in the event you win. So, what you can see here is that the odds tell you two things:

• How likely it is an outcome will occur (according to a bookmaker)
• How much you stand to win – you determine your return by multiplying your stake by the decimal odds e.g. ₹100 X 2.0 = 200

Now you know this, we can also say the following: the longer the odds, the less likely a bookmaker believes an outcome is to occur. Additionally, the longer the odds, the bigger your return will be.

📋 How to place a cricket bet

In the same way you can play casino games and poker online, it’s possible to play the odds by betting on sporting events. The first thing you’ll need is a suitable online gambling site. That’s where our cricket betting apps become relevant. We’ve tested and reviewed all the top online sportsbooks India has to offer. Our honest reviews assess each bookie’s finest features, including bonuses, odds, cricket coverage, and added extras. We also highlight some areas for improvement. You can join one of our recommended betting sites by following these steps:

1. Join a sportsbook to bet on cricket

You can use the links within each review to register. From there, you can create an account by providing various pieces of personal information, including your name, address, email, and date of birth. Once you’ve completed the registration process, you can log into your new online gambling account and go to the cashier page. 

2. Make a deposit

You need money in your account to bet on cricket or any other sport. Therefore, you’ll have to select a deposit option, such as PayPal, and initiate a transaction. Then, when you’ve got some money in your account, go to the sports betting menu and tap “cricket.”

3. Find the latest cricket matches

The betting menu contains a full list of ongoing and upcoming cricket tournaments. Select a tournament or cricket match and you’ll be given a list of betting markets, including outrights, man of the match odds, run totals, over/under bets, and futures.

4. Check the latest cricket betting tips 

You can use our cricket betting tips, statistics from a bookmaker’s database, match previews, and any other sources of information that could help you make decisions.

5. Choose your cricket bet

Tap the odds next to the cricket bet you like the look of. As we’ve already said, the odds tell you how likely an outcome is, according to the bookmaker. Moreover, the odds will tell you how much you stand to win. Additionally, you can use an odds calculator to work out the potential return for a bet. 

6. Set your bet

Once you’ve finished placing bets, go to the bet slip. This will be located on the right side of the screen or in a pop-up. You use the bet slip to input your stake, see your potential returns, and create multiway bets (aka accumulators/parlays).

7. Place your cricket bet

Finally, when you’ve set your betting conditions, tap “bet” to lock it in. At this point, all you have to do is wait for the result. If your bet is successful, the money will be paid into your account automatically.

Types of cricket bets

Placing cricket bets is relatively easy, but knowing which wagers to make takes a bit more consideration. Even before you start to assess the odds and whether or not they’re potentially profitable, you need to know what each bet type refers to. 

Before we get into specifics, cricket bets fall into these categories:

• Pre-match: cricket bets that you make before a match starts
• In-play: also known as live cricket bets, these wagers are made during a match
• Single: a bet on one outcome
• Accumulator/Parlay: bets that contain multiple picks/outcomes (all parts of an accumulator have to be correct for these bets to be declared winners)
• Team bets: you’re betting on outcomes relevant to a team
• Player bets: you’re betting on outcomes relevant to an individual player

These overarching categories provide a framework within which the following types of cricket bet exist:

Outright winner

Picking a team to win is known as an outright bet. This could be the winner of the toss, a match, or a tournament. 

Over/under

Over/under bets require you to pick whether a result will finish above or below a set total. In cricket, over/under bets are popular ways to speculate on the total number of runs or wickets a team will take. For example, the proposition could be: India to score 250 runs. You can bet that the number of runs will be over or under that total. 

Handicap

Handicap bets put one team/player at a disadvantage to create a more even contest. For example, let’s say India are regarded as better than Pakistan. A handicap bet could be something like India -20/Pakistan +20. In this situation, the bet assumes India are starting the game with -20 runs, while Pakistan are starting with +20 runs. Therefore, India will only be classed as the winner (based on this bet) if they win by more than 20 runs. 

Innings run

You don’t always have to bet on the total number of runs in a cricket match. Instead, you can bet on the number of runs a team will score in a single innings. This is a popular way to bet on One Day International cricket tournaments because there’s often a lot of action in a single innings. 

First ball and first over

The best online cricket betting sites can offer odds on outcomes that are highly specific. Betting on what’s going to happen during the first ball is one i.e. will the bowler take a wicket or will runs be scored? You can also bet on the outcome of the first over in terms of the number of runs to be scored or wickets to be taken.

Man of the match

Placing bets on cricket players to be named man of the match is popular with fans of the sport. Why? Because you don’t have to focus as much on batting/bowling statistics. The man of the match is often the best all-round performer, so the key to making a pick in this cricket betting market is focusing on players who can perform well when batting and fielding. 

Top bowler

The top bowler in a cricket match is the player who takes the most wickets. This means you’re betting on the player you believe will eliminate the most batters. 

Top batsman

The top batter in a cricket match is the player who scores the most runs. This means you’re betting on the player you believe will score more points than everyone else. 

Win toss

Betting on the toss is a simple 50/50 bet because it will either be won by Team A or Team B. As such, the odds on this bet are always going to be even-money (2.0).

Series score

A cricket tournament is more than a single match. If the format sees two teams play multiple matches to determine a winner, such as the Ashes, you can bet on the series score. For example, if you use a recommended Indian online bookmaker to bet on the Ashes, you might pick England to win the series 3-2. 

Series winner

If you don’t want to bet on the series score but like the idea of picking a team to win a cricket tournament, you can bet on the overall winner. This is basically an outright and it’s often called a futures bet because you’re picking the winner of a future contest.

📈 How can I track my cricket bets and winnings?

Modern betting software is designed to make the process as simple, entertaining, and informative as possible. Our recommended sportsbooks track all your account activity, from your deposits and withdrawals to bets made, losses, and wins. Just go into your account page and select “bet history.” This calls up a database of every wager you’ve made and whether you won or lost. You can also sort through the database to see exactly when and how you were successful. 

🏟️ Is there live betting on cricket matches?

Yes, you can make live bets on all cricket matches. In fact, such is the popularity of cricket betting that you’ll not only find in-play odds online but live streams, real-time updates, and animated overviews of the action. Use a top-rated IN bookmaker and they’ll have a tab dedicated to live cricket betting. 

Within this tab will be the latest in-play odds for a variety of bets, including the overall match result, number of runs/wickets for the current over/inning, a batsman/bowler/fielder to do something in the current over/inning. As is the case with all live sports bets, the odds change by the second as the dynamics of the match change. This is what makes in-play betting unpredictable and exciting. 

Are there proven cricket betting strategies?

There are proven sports betting strategies for cricket but, and this is important, nothing is ever guaranteed. We hate to paint a somewhat gloomy picture, but the nature of online gambling is such that you can never guarantee a result. This applies to wins and losses. For example, if you play online casino games such as blackjack, you don’t know whether a spin of the roulette wheel is going to result in a win or loss. 

It’s the same in sports betting. Picking Team A to beat Team B could be the correct move or not. This uncertainty is what makes sports betting possible (if things were 100% certain, no bookmaker would offer odds). Moreover, it’s the uncertainty that makes sports betting challenging and exciting. Your job is to reduce the level of uncertainty as much as possible before you bet any money. 

So, let’s say you want to bet on the top batsman in a match between India and Australia. How could you reduce the uncertainty? Well, you can start by looking through the starting line-up and who the top-rated batsmen are. From there, you can look at their recent form. You can then take it a step further and look at their careers as a whole and, from there, how they’ve performed against the opposing team. 

Finally, you can look at how certain batsmen fare against certain bowlers. For example, we know Rohit Sharma is a strong batsman, but you might look through his results and see he struggles against spin bowlers. If Australia are fielding a team of strong spin bowlers, it might not be a good time to bet on Sharma. 

This is the way you should approach every online cricket betting market. Start with the proposition and work to gather as much information as possible so you can reduce the level of uncertainty. Only once you’ve done that should you think about placing bets.

What do I need to know about cricket teams and players before placing a bet?

In reality, you don’t need to know anything about cricket teams or players before placing a bet. However, as we’ve just discussed, you should be aiming to reduce the amount of uncertainty before you risk any money. 

Therefore, it makes sense to not only educate yourself about cricket teams and their players but the sport in general before you place any bets. This is infinitely easier if you’re already a fan of the sport. But, even if you’re not, it’s still possible to take advantage of the best cricket betting odds if you do some research before you make picks. 

🔎 Where to bet on cricket in India

Betting on cricket is only possible if you’ve got a reputable bookmaker willing to take your money. The good news is that India is home to some exceptional bookmakers, all of which are accessible via computers and mobile devices. The following list of online cricket betting sites are not only licensed and reputable but packed with competitive odds, promotions, and features. 

LiliBet

LiliBet has made cricket its main focus. It offers odds on all other major sports, but cricket is its forte. This shows not only when you scroll through the latest odds but look at the promotions. For example, during our tests, LiliBet was offering payout boosts worth up to 30% on ICC World Cup matches. Another feature of note is the interface, which features plenty of cricket imagery so you always have a reminder of the task at hand. Add to this competitive odds, as well as a ₹25,000 first deposit match, and you’ve got a top-rated IN online cricket betting site. 

Rajabets

This is the bookmaker to try whenever there’s a major cricket tournament taking place. Like its peers, Rajabets always aims to offer competitive odds. The interface is a bit busy, but it only takes a few minutes to get comfortable with all the page elements. We think this bookie knocks in sixes when it comes to cricket tournament promotions. For example, during the 2023 ICC World Cup, Rajabets had a deposit bonus for cricket bettors worth up to ₹3,000. Something else you might like is that you can get cricket betting tips via Telegram. For more details, check out our Rajabets review.

Pure Win

Pure Win brands itself as the home of cricket and kabaddi betting. Is that the case? Yes, if you like diversity. This bookie offers more variety than most when it comes to sports bets. All the usual bet types are covered, but Pure Win goes a few steps further by offering pre-match and in-play points spreads, totals, futures, and props. The aesthetics are a little bit dated, but don’t let this fool you. Another reason Pure Win has a more diverse selection of betting markets is the fact you can bet on virtual cricket matches. 

22Bet

22Bet should be your go-to platform if you enjoy mobile cricket betting. In fact, this operator brands its product as the place that offers “a whole world of betting in your pocket.” You can access 22Bet via your computer, but we rate its mobile site very highly. It’s optimized for all devices and offers useful features such as push notifications. We’d like this bookmaker to offer a few more payment methods but, overall, we’re hot on the fact 22Bet’s software is slick on all devices, particularly mobiles. For more info on the operator, read our full review of 22Bet.

Sportsbet.io

Online cricket betting sites like to follow the latest trends and Sportsbet.io is on the cutting edge of financial technology. Although odds and betting offers are its forte, this bookmaker stands out for one main reason: cryptocurrency payments. You can make deposits, withdrawals, and bets using a variety of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and USDT. 

The odds are competitive, particularly for major cricket tournaments such as the ICC World Cup. The interface can be a little overwhelming and it would be nice to see a few more promotions. However, if you want access to the very latest in payment technology, safe software, and a unique welcome bonus worth 100,000 USDT, Sportsbet.io is ideal.

🎁 What cricket betting bonuses are great for bettors in India? 

There are always ways to get more for less when you’re placing bets online. Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world, which means the best online betting sites India has to offer are always packed with relevant promotions. Even though the line-up of cricket betting bonuses changes on a regular basis, here are some of the top offers to look out for:

• Cricket leaderboards: these promotions are great for competitive cricket bettors. Why? Because you’ll be competing against others to make the most successful bets. Each successful bet earns you points. Earn enough points to finish on the leaderboard and you’ll win a share of the prize pool.
• Enhanced odds and cricket boosts: it’s possible to get better odds or payouts when you bet on specific cricket matches. Enhanced odds give you a better price (i.e. longer odds), while profit boosts multiply your win by a certain amount. 
• Reload bonuses: cricket tournaments are great opportunities for bookies to run reload bonuses. These offers give you bonus cash when you add funds to your account. 
• Cashback offers: you’ll be able to get some money back on losing wagers with these bonuses. The amount you get back varies depending on the promotion, but you’ll typically get the value of your bet back up to a certain amount. Finally, rebates are usually paid as a free bet rather than cash.
• Free cricket bets: you can get free cricket bets by completing tasks, such as making deposits, betting on specific matches, or earning a certain number of loyalty points. 

Our top 5 cricket betting tips

How do you get maximum value from your time online and give yourself the best chance of making a winning wager? Well, even though uncertainty will always be in play, these cricket betting tips should help you get more from the game…

1. Look for ways to get extra credits: you’ll always get welcome offers when you join a new sportsbook, so use our links to get the best deals, such as Rajabets ₹100,000 deposit bonus.
2. Think about all outcomes: you’ll have various ways to wager money on cricket, from outrights and singles to in-play and parlay bets. Make sure you know what each bet is and make picks that suit your preferences (i.e. how general or specific you like to be).
3. Stats matter: cricket is a game of numbers and you should make use of them. Specifically, you should look at the pre-match stats for teams and players. The stats to focus on are recent results, batting averages, number of wickets taken, and overs/innings played. 
4. Head-to-head matches matter: cricket teams and players don’t exist in a vacuum. For example, a bowler might have strong career stats, but they struggle to play against attacking batsmen. Therefore, if a team is filled with attacking batsmen, a bowler might struggle, despite being a strong player. This proves that head-to-head match-ups matter. 
5. Always be conservative: don’t get carried away when you’re placing bets. Money is on the line and you shouldn’t risk too much on a single wager. Each bet you make should be a very small percentage of your bankroll’s total value. 

Keep these tips in mind when you’re betting on cricket and you’ll get the maximum amount of enjoyment from your time online. That’s just about all you need to know so, if you’re ready to hit some sixes, check out our recommended cricket betting sites and have some fun today. 

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed

Read our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices.

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