Best Cricket Betting Markets – Explained (2025)

Last Updated: September 20, 2023

Understanding the various betting markets that the best cricket bookmakers typically offer is crucial, as it can significantly boost your chances of making profitable bets. This article explores some of the most popular and profitable cricket betting markets, along with tips on how you can make the most of each wager.

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What Are Cricket Betting Markets?
Best Cricket Betting Markets: Explained
Are There Cricket Betting Markets You Should Avoid?
Cricket Betting Markets for Tests
Cricket Betting Markets for ODIs
Cricket Betting Markets for IPL And T20Is
CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

What Are Cricket Betting Markets?

These markets refer to the variety of bet types that you get when you bet on cricket online. Each market is based on some unique elements or probable outcome of the match, which the bookmakers decide based on the players' performance in the recent past. The bookmakers analyse which events in a cricket match their customers would like to bet on, and accordingly create markets based on these events.

However, betting sites publish unique betting markets when it comes to the world's top cricket tournaments and cricket leagues, as these are highly in demand and extremely popular among large swathes of punters across the country.

Just how valuable are cricket betting markets?

The global sports betting market is valued at more than $85 billion. According to a report by Statista, the industry's market size will reach $92.9 billion by the end of 2023. During major cricket tournaments and events, such as the Indian Premier League, the number of active sports bettors regularly exceeds 370 million in the country. As estimated in 2021, the local sports betting market was valued at over $1.2 billion, with the vast majority of the revenue of these betting sites coming from cricket bettors.

Each cricket betting market projects different odds, which can help you bet on the markets best suited to your risk appetite if analysed properly. Moreover, knowing how various cricket betting markets operate enables you to study the factors that influence that market and improve your betting success rate.

It doesn't matter which cricket betting app you choose – the fundamentals of these betting markets remain the same.

Best Cricket Betting Markets: Explained

We have listed the most popular markets for cricket betting below, along with strategies on how to bet on each one.

1. Match Winner

(Source: Dafabet)

What is this betting market?

A variation on the Match Result market (which also has ‘draw' as an option), the Match Winner market is one of the simplest to understand and play. As the name suggests, you must predict which team will win the match.
Note that if the game ends in a draw, your bet would be considered void.
The team with the higher odds is the underdog, while the team carrying shorter odds is expected to win.
Most cricket betting sites have a dedicated team to develop markets and their odds, with some even using algorithms and modern software to do so. The latter can sometimes result in a lack of human understanding and the ability to take outside elements into account, which is where you can capitalise.
For instance, the odds of Team A winning a match are 1.71, and that of Team B is 2.20. The odds indicate that the probability of Team B winning is lower than Team A, thus the higher odds.
There is a high chance that Team A will win, but that shouldn't be the only determinant. Factor in the H2H records, outcomes of recent matches, and the two teams' performance on that pitch as that will enable you to place an informed bet.

2. Toss Winner

(Source: Parimatch)

What is this betting market?

The toss winner market is the simplest one, and it frankly doesn't require any calculation or science. You just bet on the toss, which is as arbitrary as it can get, considering either team captain has a 50-50 chance of winning the toss. The market also reflects that, with the same odds for both teams.
Betting on this market is solely based on luck. Both the captains have an equal chance of winning the toss, therefore there's no real advice for this cricket betting market. However, we suggest that if you get a free bet, you can always use that for these kinds of markets, where the scope of analysis and projection is next to nil.

3. Outright Winner

(Source: Betway)

What is this betting market?

Sometimes referred to as the Series Winner market, this one requires you to predict which team would win the whole series/tournament – not just an individual match. Of course, you'd have your favourites heading into a particular contest, but you should never let your bias creep in.
If it's a lopsided contest where one team is exceptionally stronger than the other, you can rest on past records to predict the outright winner.
In addition, you should look at the team lineups and the recent performances of individual players.
Remember, it is relatively easy to predict this market in a bilateral series.
However, it requires laser-sharp betting analysis and research in trilateral series, major tournaments like the ICC World Cup, or other top-tier domestic leagues like the IPL or the Big Bash.

4. Top Batsman

(Source: 10CRIC)

What is this betting market?

Widely available across matches, this cricket betting market comes to life when a particular game sees a host of top batters take the field. And as the name suggests, you have to correctly call the highest run-scorer of a match.
As you have probably realised, this is not the easiest market to ace, especially if you are betting on a match involving two heavyweights. Worry not, though – below are a few useful tips worth keeping in mind.
The game format is integral to calling this market correctly. While some batters may excel during Test matches, they might not be up to the mark in the other two formats (ODI and T20Is). So, we advise you to keep track of batting records across these three major forms of cricket.
Secondly, check the pitch report before the game starts, as some batsmen can play their natural game better on certain wickets. For example, Indian batters generally tend to become run machines on spin-friendly tracks, but can sometimes falter on pitches that have good bounce and carry. That said, we wouldn't consider this a rule of thumb, as more and more Indians have been performing brilliantly on seam-friendly tracks of late.
Tracking players' performances over the course of a few games will give you a fair idea of how the batter is adapting to the pitch conditions.
Importantly, you've got to stay on top of the game, whether it's your team or any other squad. And some of the best cricket live score sites and apps will help you do just that!

Now, remember that this market could have two variants. One is the Top Team Batsman, where you must predict which batter will score the maximum number of runs from his team. And the other is the Top Batsman for the entire match, where you bet on the batter you think will emerge as the highest run-scorer from both teams.

Of course, this cricket betting market is a common feature for tournaments as well, where you predict the most prolific run-scorer in the whole tournament/league.

5. To Score a Century

What is this betting market?

This cricket betting market is designed to allow you to bet on the player you think will score a 100 in the game.
Of course, the batsman's form is the primary indicator of his potential to score a 100 in the game.
Sure, there will be those occasional out-of-the-blue knocks from batters whom you'd least expect to score highly, but that's a rarity. Nine times out of ten, an in-form batsman is the best candidate for acing this cricket betting market. And this is where you have to do your research.
Also, factor in the game format before placing your bet. Scoring a 100 in a Test is the likeliest, followed by ODIs and T20s.
That said, prolific run-machines like KL Rahul and Jos Buttler have smacked multiple centuries in a single season of the IPL, so that anomaly will always be there.

6. Top Wicket-Taker

(Source: Casumo)

What is this betting market?

Available across formats, this market is about picking the bowler who you think will take the most wickets in a particular match.
This cricket betting market is also available for entire tournaments and series.
A bowler's performance depends a lot on the format and the country/venue of the match. For example, in England and Australia, the tracks are seam-friendly with good bounce and carry (therefore better for pacers and medium-fast bowlers). In contrast, Indian wickets tend to favour spinners more.
A lot also depends on the weather. For instance, if a T20 is held in Mumbai, Sydney, or any other coastal city at night, the dew factor comes into play. The latter adds moisture to the pitch, making lives difficult for bowlers. In these situations, you've got to think accordingly (and perhaps go for spinners instead of pacers).
Also, always go through the players' past records and bowling stats before wagering on this cricket betting market.

7. Method of 1st Dismissal

(Source: Casumo)

What is this betting market?

Another fan-favourite cricket betting market that involves betting on how the first wicket in the match will fall. The options you get are caught, bowled, stumped, run out, and LBW (leg before wicket).
Although this cricket betting market depends on luck like any other, it helps to study the playing style of the bowler and the batsman.
Important, you must know beforehand which bowler and batter is opening the innings for their teams, respectively. For example, if a team is mainly fielding pacers with just one spinner, chances are the first wicket would never be through stumping. Here, your decision-making becomes relatively easier.
Another seemingly modest but vital determinant is the match format. For example, in a Test match, it is far less likely for the first wicket to be a caught or a run-out, simply because a batsman would take his own sweet time to settle at the wicket. Therefore, his chances of going for that rash single or attempting a heave wide outside the off stump will be much lesser than ODIs and T20s.
Similarly, suppose you have a left-arm outswinger bowling to a left-hander in an ODI. In that case, the chances of the first dismissal being caught by the wicket-keeper increase dramatically.
Finally, be sure to carefully look at the field set by the bowler to understand how he's planning to bowl to the batters.

MUST READ: Most Common Methods Of Dismissal

8. Man of the Match

What is this betting market?

A player given the title of Man of the Match (MoM) is considered to have contributed the most to his team in a particular game. It can be the highest run-scorer, the best bowler, or even an exceptional fielder. More often than not, MoM is awarded to a player from the winning team, but there have been multiple exceptions over the years.
Betting on this cricket betting market is fun, but requires a thorough understanding of the players’ recent performances.
The trend in this cricket betting market is that the batters usually walk home with the MoM award, but that's not to say bowlers don't.
If someone takes wickets at strategic intervals and thwarts the batting side's march to victory, the title could very well go to him. And we have seen so many instances of that happening!
It would help if you prepared a shortlist of contenders and studied their overall performance before placing bets on the man of the match.
Ideally, steer clear of this cricket betting market in Test matches, as there could be so many players who step up and put up a brilliant show over the five days.

9. Draw No Bet

What is this betting market?

Probably one of the safest and best cricket betting markets, considering there's relative security to your stake when you place a Draw No Bet (DNB). It eliminates the option of a draw from a wager, allowing you to bet on a home win or an away win.
If your selection wins, you win your bet. However, if the match ends in a draw, your stake would be refunded, so you neither win nor lose. Of course, you lose your bet if your selection loses.
Thus, even though the odds of a draw no bet are lower than match winner and final result markets, the risk involved is reduced too. And that's the trade-off you're settling for.
Go for this cricket betting market if you deem the chances of a draw are high. With this reasoning, Test matches are best suited for a Draw No Bet.

Are There Cricket Betting Markets You Should Avoid?

When it comes to variety in betting markets, the more, the merrier. However, there are a few that we suggest you steer clear of, simply because either they're too complex and require almost superhuman prediction prowess, or are plain speculation-based with no room for application or analysis.

While you will always need a sprinkling of luck to win any bet, here at CBA, we encourage you to bet on markets that aren't solely driven by conjecture and speculation.

The following is a list of some markets we'd advise you to avoid:

Total Runs To Be Scored (Even/Odd)
Runs off the 1st/2nd/3rd… Deliveries: (Over/Under)
First/Second Innings Total Runs: (O/U)
First/Second Innings ‘X' Over Total Runs: (O/U)

There are many more that can feature on this list – this is simply to give you an idea of the kind of cricket betting markets that are best to stay away from.

Cricket Betting Markets for Tests

The range of markets for betting on Test matches has significantly expanded in recent times, especially with online cricket betting picking up pace. Apart from the traditional ones, there are now multiple in-play betting or other statistical bets, including first innings lead, opening partnership, and to score a 100.

The following are betting markets tailored for the longest format of the game:

First innings lead: You bet on the side you think will be in the lead at the end of the two teams’ first innings.
Highest opening partnership: You bet on the team you think will stitch the highest partnership for the opening wicket.
To score a century: Here, you bet on the batsman you think will score a ton.
Top batsman (1st Innings): As the name suggests, you predict which batsman will be the top scorer for his team at the end of the first innings.

Cricket Betting Markets for ODIs

One Day Internationals enjoy a massive following among betting enthusiasts, and bookmakers come up with tailored markets to cater to ODI loyalists. Interest generally intensifies by the time the World Cup or other top-tier matches come around, but you'll have an array of ODI cricket betting markets throughout the year.

The following are markets tailored for 50-over games:

Over/under: Over/under betting markets usually refer to the projected combined runs (scored by both teams) in a game. However, this can also relate to the total wickets taken in the match. Factor in the pitch report, H2H records, and matches in the recent past between the two teams in question to make an informed bet.
First dismissal method: We have explained this cricket betting market in detail above. A quick recap, in this case, you predict how the first wicket of the match would fall – caught, bowled, stumped, run-out, or LBW.
Team to hit most 4s/6s: Here, you bet on the team you think will hit the most 6s/4s in the game. Simple.
A 100 to be scored: This is another fairly simple market. You just predict (yes or no) whether there will be at least one 100 scored in the game.

Cricket Betting Markets for IPL And T20Is

The T20 format wasn’t taken too seriously in the beginning, but after it finally caught on with the first-ever T20 World Cup in 2007, there has been no looking back. Over the years, the shortest format has become a hit among cricket betting buffs. Listed below are a few cricket betting markets for IPL and also T20s in general:

A Fifty to be scored: A half-century is much more common than a 100 in the shortest format. In this market, you simply bet on whether a fifty will be scored (yes or no) in the match.
Total 4s/6s in the match: This is an over/under cricket betting market, where you bet on whether the total 4s/6s in the match would be over or under the limit given by the betting site.
‘Team’ total 4s/6s: This is also an over/under market, where you simply bet on whether your selection will hit more than or less than the limit given by the betting site.

Best Cricket Betting Markets FAQs

Do all bookmakers offer the same cricket betting markets?: The cricket betting markets explained above are the most popular, and they're available across all leading bookmakers. Their names may vary, but the fundamentals remain the same. That said, betting sites try and include certain additional markets unique only to them to attract more punters. Therefore, not all markets are present on every site.
Which are the best sites for cricket betting?: In order to rank among the best, betting sites focus on providing competitive odds and variety in markets. In addition, the site must be reliable, secure, and easy to navigate. Considering these factors together, the top three cricket betting sites for us are 10CRIC and Betway.
Do mobile betting apps provide livestreaming services?: Livestreaming is an integral feature of cricket betting nowadays, allowing enthusiasts to bet from anywhere while watching a game. India's leading betting apps support live cricket streaming as a standard feature without any charges.
Are there cricket betting markets I can bet on while a match is in progress?: Yes, of course. These are called live betting markets, and you can find them listed separately on the betting site in question.

CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

Now that you know about the top cricket betting markets, get going and explore betting in new markets. As always, we advise you to select value over everything else while placing bets.

Be safe, bet safe!

Suman Bhattacharya

Bookmaker reviews expert

Say hello to Suman Bhattacharya from Calcutta, the wordsmith working behind the scenes at Cricket Betting Advice. He specialises in probing into bookmakers and giving readers his unbiased opinion on what he feels is good and bad about the bookie.

Importantly, Suman is the best bet (pun intended) when it comes to comparing bookie odds and overrounds and suggesting to the CBA family the betting site that provides the most favourable prices on a cricket match.