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Rivalry notes
After many years of playing IPL Fantasy, with plenty of ups and downs along the way (including an absolutely insane 2024 season… a story for another day), I’ve picked up a few general principles that guide how I play.
First, a quick note on my approach this season. I’ll be running two fantasy teams. I do NOT recommend doing this yourself, especially if you’re new to the game, but it’s something I like to do because it lets me test different ideas. Sometimes I’ll try different captains, experiment with transfers, or use boosters at different times. It also increases the odds of winning as fantasy can be unpredictable, and you could make your second team the main if it scores more initially.
While you could just copy my exact team and would get a great result (if I do say so myself), I would not suggest doing so as it takes the fun out the game. If you have any questions you can comment on a post and I can help you make decisions which is a much more fulfilling way to play.
While IPL has prizes for the top 10 to 25-ish places, you shouldn't fixate on them. While it's a nice aspiration, actually winning the car takes a lot amount of skill but also a ton of luck. So don't get your hopes too high to avoid disappointment. Aim for top 50k out of around 500k if it's your first time and top 5k if you've played a season before. But more importantly than global rankings it trying to outperform your friends because I can tell you it's what keeps me going. By the way it's 3-2 all-time, between me and Nischal. Of course 3 to me.
Throughout the season I’ll be posting daily updates and thoughts about my teams, including transfers and strategy decisions. On double-header days (when two matches are played) I’ll try to post twice, once before each game. That said, life does get in the way sometimes, so I’ll include my planned moves for the second match in the first update on double headers.
Next is that fact that this year's official IPL fantasy hasn't opened yet so I have not read the scoring system or rules for this season, they usually remain similar year to year but not necessarily. So my current posts and comments are based on past years knowledge.
Before the season begins, there are three key areas that will have the biggest impact on your results:
1. Boosters. When and how you use them (and a bit of luck, or bad luck) can completely change the trajectory of your season.
2. Transfer efficiency. Managing your transfers properly is crucial over a long tournament. It doesn't matter who's first after one game if they run out with 20 games left.
3. Planning ahead. Looking a few matches ahead instead of just the next game is crucial when deciding picks.
Over the next few days I’ll be posting more about each of these topics. Once the season starts, I’ll also go into more detailed strategy posts, including things like the best times to use your power-ups and how to maximise your scores.
If you’re new to IPL Fantasy or just looking to improve your results this season, hopefully these posts help you along the way. Thanks for reading, and GOOD LUCK for the 2026 IPL Fantasy season!