Types of Cricket Bets Explained: A Beginner’s Guide for India
Cricket is by far the most heavily bet-on sport in India, and sportsbooks reflect that with dozens of markets for a single match — far more than just picking the winner. For a beginner, it helps to understand what each of these markets actually means before placing a wager on it. This guide walks through […]
Cricket is by far the most heavily bet-on sport in India, and sportsbooks reflect that with dozens of markets for a single match — far more than just picking the winner. For a beginner, it helps to understand what each of these markets actually means before placing a wager on it.
This guide walks through the most common cricket bet types available to Indian bettors, using realistic match examples throughout, from international fixtures to T20 league cricket like the IPL.
Match Winner
The simplest cricket bet is predicting which team wins the match outright, often just called match winner.
Example: India vs. Australia, ODI match. Backing India to win at decimal odds of 1.80 with a ₹1,000 stake returns ₹1,800 if India wins — a profit of ₹800.
In formats with no possible draw, like most limited-overs cricket, this is a straightforward two-way market and a good starting point for beginners.
Cricket markets build on the popular bet types covered in our main guide.
Match Winner with a Tie or No Result
In some formats, a tie (both teams scoring the same number of runs) or a no result (match abandoned, often due to weather) is a separate possible outcome. It’s worth checking whether a match’s format allows for a tie before assuming a two-way bet covers every possibility.
In Test cricket, where a draw is possible, the double chance market lets you cover two outcomes.
Top Batsman / Top Run-Scorer
Top batsman markets ask you to predict which player will score the most runs for their team, or sometimes across the whole match, rather than predicting the match result itself.
Example: Betting on a specific opening batsman to be the top run-scorer for India in a T20 match. This bet can win or lose independent of whether India actually wins the game.
These markets require a bit more research than team-based bets, since they depend on batting order, current form, and pitch conditions — an opener facing more deliveries generally has a different run-scoring profile than a middle-order batsman.
Top Bowler / Most Wickets
The bowling equivalent of top batsman markets, top bowler bets predict which player will take the most wickets in an innings or match.
Example: Backing a specific fast bowler to finish as the top wicket-taker for their team in a Test match. Conditions matter heavily here — a bowler suited to seaming pitches may be a stronger pick in some venues than others.
Total Runs (Over/Under)
Over/under bets on total runs ask whether the combined total in an innings or match will finish above or below a set line, rather than asking who wins.
Example: A T20 match sets the total runs line at 320.5. Betting “over” wins if 321 or more runs are scored across both innings combined; “under” wins if 320 or fewer are scored. The “.5” ensures there’s never an exact tie on the total.
Learn how bookmakers set lines in our guide to over/under runs markets.
Total Sixes
Closely related to total runs, total sixes markets focus specifically on how many sixes are hit in a match, which tends to attract strong interest in T20 cricket given its faster scoring pace.
Example: A match sets the total sixes line at 14.5. Fifteen or more sixes wins an “over” bet; fourteen or fewer wins “under.” This market can move quickly as an innings progresses, particularly during a strong batting spell.
Method of Dismissal
Method of dismissal bets predict how a specific batsman will be dismissed — for example, caught, bowled, LBW, or run out — rather than simply whether they’ll be out at all.
Example: Betting that a specific batsman will be dismissed “caught” rather than any other method. This is a more specialised market, and odds vary significantly depending on a bowling attack’s style and the batsman’s typical dismissal patterns.
Markets like this are often offered ball by ball during live cricket betting.
Handicap Betting
Handicap betting in cricket applies a virtual run advantage or disadvantage to one team, useful when there’s a clear mismatch between sides.
Example: In a match where Team A is a strong favourite, a -20.5 run handicap on Team A means their actual margin of victory needs to exceed 20 runs for the bet to succeed — winning by 15 runs would not be enough, even though Team A won the match outright.
When Handicap Betting Makes Sense
- When one team is heavily favoured and straight match-winner odds feel too low
- When you have a specific view on the margin of victory, not just the winner
When It May Not Suit Beginners
- Understanding run-based handicaps takes some getting used to
- It’s easy to misjudge what margin is realistic in a given match context
Series and Tournament Bets
Beyond single matches, series winner or tournament winner bets ask you to predict the outcome of a full series or competition, such as an entire IPL season or a bilateral Test series between two countries.
These bets typically settle only once the full series or tournament concludes, meaning your stake is tied up for a longer period than a single-match bet.
Accumulators (Multi-Bets)
An accumulator combines two or more individual cricket bets into a single wager, with the odds of each selection multiplying together.
Example: Combining three separate match-winner bets from different IPL games, each at 1.80 decimal odds, produces combined odds of roughly 5.83. A ₹500 stake would return around ₹2,915 if all three selections win.
The key risk: every selection must win for the accumulator to pay out. If even one selection loses, the entire bet loses, regardless of how the others performed.
Quick Comparison of Cricket Bet Types
| Bet Type | Complexity | Typical Odds | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match winner | Low | Lower | Beginners |
| Top run-scorer | Medium | Moderate-higher | Bettors following player form |
| Top wicket-taker | Medium | Moderate-higher | Bettors following bowling conditions |
| Total runs | Low-medium | Moderate | Bettors focused on match statistics |
| Total sixes | Low-medium | Moderate | T20-focused bettors |
| Method of dismissal | High | Higher | Experienced bettors |
| Handicap | Medium | Moderate | Bettors with a margin-of-victory view |
| Series/tournament winner | Medium | Varies | Longer-term bettors |
| Accumulator | Medium-high | Higher | Bettors comfortable combining risk |
Football has its own set of markets. See our guide to football bet types.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
| Mistake | Better Approach |
|---|---|
| Ignoring pitch and weather conditions | Factor in conditions before betting on runs or wickets markets |
| Assuming a strong team always covers a handicap | Check the actual handicap number carefully |
| Betting on method of dismissal without research | Treat this as a specialised, higher-risk market |
| Adding too many legs to an accumulator | Remember every single selection must win |
| Forgetting that ties and no-results exist in some formats | Confirm what outcomes a market actually covers |
A Note on Responsible Gambling
Regardless of which cricket market you choose, betting should be treated as entertainment, not a source of income. More specialised markets like method of dismissal or large accumulators can be engaging, but higher odds reflect lower probability, not better long-term value.
Setting a budget before betting, using tools like deposit limits where available, and avoiding the urge to chase losses with bigger stakes are simple habits worth keeping regardless of how well you know the sport.
Where to go next on our site
- top sports betting apps in India – compare mobile-friendly betting platforms available to Indian players,
- trusted football betting sites – explore platforms covering popular football leagues, matches, and betting markets,
- leading Indian betting sites – review reliable operators with competitive odds and useful features,
- betting sites with instant withdrawals – discover platforms that provide fast and convenient payout options,
- betting sites offering a ₹500 signup bonus – compare welcome offers available to new users in India,
- betting sites offering a ₹100 signup bonus – find low-entry welcome promotions for new bettors.
AI NOTICE – This guide was created with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor to ensure accuracy and clarity. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not encourage gambling.
Types of Cricket Bets Explained FAQ
What’s the easiest cricket bet type for a beginner to start with?
A match winner bet is the simplest starting point, since it only requires predicting the final result. Once you’re comfortable reading decimal odds and calculating potential returns, markets like total runs or top run-scorer are a reasonable next step.
What happens if a cricket match is abandoned due to rain?
Most cricket betting markets are voided if a match is abandoned with no result, meaning stakes are typically refunded. Rules can vary by market and operator, so it’s worth checking the specific terms for no result or abandoned match scenarios before betting on formats where weather is a real factor.
Are top batsman and top bowler bets riskier than match winner bets?
Generally, yes, since they depend on individual player form, batting or bowling order, and match conditions rather than overall team strength. These markets usually offer higher odds than match winner bets to reflect the greater difficulty in predicting them accurately.
How does a run handicap work in cricket betting?
A handicap applies a virtual run adjustment to a team before the result is judged. For example, a team with a -20.5 handicap needs to win by more than 20 runs for the bet to succeed, even if they win the match outright by a smaller margin.
Can I combine cricket bets from different matches into one accumulator?
Yes, most sportsbooks allow you to combine selections from different matches, tournaments, or even different sports into a single accumulator. All selections still need to win for the bet to pay out, so adding more legs increases both the potential return and the overall risk.
Why do total sixes markets tend to be more popular in T20 cricket?
T20 cricket’s faster scoring pace and shorter format make total sixes a naturally more active and unpredictable market compared with longer formats like Test cricket, where six-hitting is generally less frequent. This is why the market is more commonly offered on T20 fixtures like the IPL.
