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Fantasy Cricket: Digital Is The New Playground For Cricket Fans |
That cricket is the most followed sport in India, is known to one and all. It all began with Team India's miraculous win in the final of the 1983 World Cup that sparked nationwide interest in cricket. Then in the 90s, it was the
rise of Sachin Tendulkar and the subsequent boom in satellite television that fuelled the passion for the sport in India. Today the grip that cricket has over the nation's collective imagination is unmatched and incomparable. Every major victory of the team sets off zestful celebrations all around, what with the jubilant fans dancing on the streets, bursting firecrackers, hugging each other, distributing sweets and waving the national flag. And if the team loses, it casts a pall of gloom over the entire nation. No other sport in India evokes such emotional intensity and undiluted passion that cricket does. In fact when it comes to cricket, not many can match the Indians for their unflinching love and devotion for the game. India literally comes to a grinding halt whenever the national team is playing an important match! Even the usually traffic-clogged streets wear a deserted look while anxious cricket fans remain glued to their tv and mobile phone screens, watching with bated breaths, ball after ball and praying earnestly for their team's success. Such is the craze for cricket in India that the fans don't mind waiting for hours to enter the stadiums, sometimes even under the scorching sun, however daunting that might be; nor are they concerned about paying exorbitant prices for the match tickets. It's almost impossible to imagine a low turnout at a cricket venue where Team India would play. In fact any cricket match involving India is invariably bound to be chock-a-block with fans, no matter which part of the world the match is being played at.
Even in the matches played abroad, one would still find a sizeable number of Indian fans inside the stadium cheering for their team. Of course, the Indian diaspora population is fairly large all over the world but it's not just them who throng the stadiums to watch a cricket match involving India. Rather it is slowly becoming a norm these days of Indian fans travelling abroad just to watch their team play. Similarly it's not uncommon to find cricket fans (whether they are passers-by or street vendors or school kids or office goers returning home) congregating outside electronics shops or pan-beedi shops or just about any shop with a TV to catch the live cricketing action when a match is on. So what if the commentary isn't audible enough from that far? They would still flock outside, watching anxiously and rooting for their team. Likewise, while commuting via public transport, if a co-passenger is found listening to the cricket commentary on his radio set or cell phone, one simply can't help asking, "score kya hua?" (what's the score?). And invariably, within minutes, that person gets surrounded by a mini-crowd of cricket enthusiasts, all ears to the match updates. Sweaty body odours or the space crunch cease to be a botheration at such times!
Times are however changing, we are now in the age of active fandom. The
modern day cricket fans have evolved; the way they now consume cricket too has evolved. Of course they enjoy cricket just as much as those of the previous generations. However rather than being mere passive spectators or followers, the digital savvy, current generation of cricket fans are now eager to play a more participative role in the game they adore so much. They now observe and analyze the game strategies, the strengths and weaknesses of individual players of their teams as well as those of their opponents and form their own insights and opinions. Thanks to the advent of Fantasy Cricket, these modern day cricket fans can now form their team accordingly, based on their own insights. In other words, Fantasy Cricket has taken fan engagement in cricket to the next level, enabling fans to engage with their favorite players and teams more deeply. Quintessentially, that’s exactly what a cricket fan aspires for. No wonder, Fantasy Cricket is all the rage right now.
For the uninformed cricket fans,
Fantasy Cricket is a virtual form of the sport that allows cricket fans to form their own fantasy teams, by selecting 11 real players from the two competing teams scheduled to play a particular match and earn points or real cash based on the selected players’ performance in the actual match. So what had begun as a mere pastime activity is today gaining currency the world over.
In India too, it has been fast gaining popularity and with the ongoing Cricket World Cup, the enthusiasm for fantasy cricket has reached a crescendo. One platform that has contributed immensely to the rising popularity of Fantasy Cricket in India is Dream11. Apart from its ingenuity, functionality and ease of use, Dream11 offers its users entertainment, rewarding experiences and a sense of control, which is why it is currently the leading and one of the most trusted fantasy gaming platforms in the country. Currently it has more than 20 million users and the figure continues to rise.
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Dream11 Fantasy Cricket |
Dream11 has indeed revolutionized the virtual gaming scenario in India. Once registered, its users can not only exhibit their analytical skills, cricketing awareness and expertise to win rewards for each of their successful engagements, but they can also compete with others for a chance to top the leader-board and earn their moment of crowning glory. Of course, picking a winning team is a bit tricky but that only adds to the excitement. Thus Dream11, in essence, provides an Indian cricket buff all the fun and excitement of an actual cricket match on their smartphones or laptop! What more could one ask for?