Cricket Man Of The Match Betting Guide (2025)

Man of the Match betting refers to backing the player you think will have the biggest positive impact on the game. Although it is one of the less straightforward cricket betting markets that bookmakers have introduced in recent times, it is still a great way to utilise your cricket knowledge.

Cricket Man of the Match Betting Explained

Man of the Match betting requires punters to decide which of the players on the field will be recognised as – you guessed it – Man of the Match. This award can go to a player that scores vital runs, takes wickets, has a big impact in the field, or puts in a performance combining all three.

However, while you may have nailed your choice with Joe Root notching a score of 110, cricket is a game in which multiple players can shine from both teams. On the other side of things, for example, Ben Stokes may score a quick-fire 90 and take four four wickets. The subjective nature of the Man of the Match title makes this betting market a bit more difficult to predict, and is usually chosen by the commentators of the game or, less often, by the fans. Your choice may be very different from the person that actually ends up receiving the award.

This award is always given at the end of the match, meaning that you will have to wait until the final ball has been bowled to find out who claimed the award. The markets tend to favour the bigger names, and this can mean that backing less-prolific players can offer good value.

Cricket Man of the Match Betting – Tips & Strategies

Best Tournaments to Bet on Cricket Man of the Match Markets

The best tournaments to bet on the Man of the Match market depend on your own preference and what you feel comfortable betting on. For example, if you like the fact that a game of T20 cricket is over after four hours, with the batsmen and bowlers only getting one chance to take to the middle to ply their trade, then Test cricket will not likely be to your taste, as both sides have two innings.

Once you have found the format(s) you enjoy betting on most, you should then figure out what events you want to bet on. We have compiled a shortlist of the biggest competitions below:

1. Test Cricket
2. The Ashes 
3. India vs Pakistan 
4. Australia vs New Zealand 
5. England vs India 
6. ODI Cricket 
7. Cricket World Cup
8. T20 Cricket
9. Cricket World Cup
10. IPL
11. Big Bash 

Any of the above will invariably bring an array of available betting markets for you to make the most out of, such as the Man of the Match in IPL, the Ashes or the Cricket World Cup. Generally, betting on ODI and T20 cricket is popular; as mentioned above, there is almost always a result, meaning if your choice is on the winning team, you will usually have a one-in-11 shot of your bet coming in. Your choice of player can play a match-winning cameo, with 45 runs from 20 balls being more than enough to see them named as the Man of the Match.

Remember, though, that as we mentioned above, the Man of the Match is often decided by the commentators, who may see the game very differently to you. They may view Jasprit Bumrah’s spell of 6/35 as the match-winning performance, instead of Rohit Sharma’s innings of 95 not out that eventually brought India victory.

Best Alternative Cricket Betting Markets

There is a very impressive array of cricket betting markets available at most bookies that will keep you entertained, whether you are on the desktop site or using the cricket betting apps. The Man of the Match market is a very niche one that focuses solely on the players, making it somewhat difficult to call as you will generally be betting on one player to out-perform the other 21.

If you are looking for other player-based markets to bet on, we have listed the most popular of these below, with an explanation of how each one works.

Top Batsman Betting

The top batsman betting market is a very simple in concept, but it can be just as difficult to call as the Man of the Match. Here, you will be looking to back which of the batsmen will notch the highest score. 

There are two ways you can play this market. The first is the ‘Top Batsman market’, which will have you selecting one player to post a higher individual score than any other player in the game. The second is the ‘Top Team Batsman’, which will allow you to select the batsman you think will top score for one of the teams. Needless to say, it should be easier to pick the winner from the Top Team Batsman market, as you are just choosing one player to beat his 10 teammates. You should be aware of the fact that selecting Virat Kohli to be the top Indian batsman will offer less value than backing him in the Top Batsman market, though, as there are 21 other players that could outscore him, therefore providing longer odds as there are more players that could see your bet lose.

Top Wicket-Taker Betting

The Top Wicket-Taker betting market is very similar to the top batsman market, only you will be backing a bowler instead. Here, you will be tasked with trying to predict which of the bowling options will finish the match with the most wickets.

Generally, you should look at the conditions of the pitch and what type of bowler it will help most. After all, if you were to back James Anderson on a pitch in Sri Lanka, he will likely get a lot less swing than if he were bowling in green and overcast conditions in England. It is vital you do your research before placing your bets – on this note, don't forget to check out the best cricket prediction in the world available on this very site!

Top Opening Partnership Betting

The top opening partnership market allows you to wager on which of the two teams will build the biggest opening partnership. The openers (the first two batsmen that go in for each team) have the unenviable task of trying to see off the new ball and the new ball bowlers before creating a foundation that their team can build on.

Getting a win in this market is often as much about luck as it is about research. Knowing the conditions that the batsmen are going to be playing in is vital, whilst the types of bowlers they are coming up against may see your bet swing the other way. The latter is true especially if England’s openers are poor against spin, and they are going up against an Indian bowling attack that boasts some world-class spinners.

Key Man of the Match Stats

Man of the Match Betting FAQs

Which are the best betting sites for Man of the Match betting?

Any of the bookmakers mentioned above will give you everything you need when it comes to betting on cricket and Man of the Match. However, we would recommend Unibet, offering excellent features, competitive odds and generous promotions, making them the very best India cricket betting sites in our eyes.

Which players should I back for the Man of the Match market?

This is often down to a lot of research and your own gut feeling. Nobody knows exactly how players are going to fare in a match until they are out in the middle. This is what makes betting so exciting, after all.

A player that has struggled for runs or wickets in recent matches could dominate the game despite not showing any signs that they were near form. Similarly, a player that is enjoying a real purple patch could suddenly meet a ball with their name on it and depart for a duck, or the fielders could continually drop catches that would otherwise see a bowler take a lot of wickets and end as Man of the Match.

As with any betting on sport, it is incredibly unpredictable. A good rule of thumb is to back a player that tends to excel on a certain ground or against a particular team, while the likes of Virat Kohli or Steve Smith are usually popular bets in the MOTM market.

Can I live stream cricket matches?

Yes, you can live stream certain matches. Before signing up to a bookie, you should check whether they have made our list of the best live cricket streaming sites in order to ensure you get the very best user experience possible.

CricketBettingAdvice Final Say

When it comes to learning how to bet on cricket, it is very important that you do your research when wagering on more niche markets such as this one. Whether you are IPL betting or looking to punt on another of the top cricket tournaments, you need to know what markets suit particular competitions the most. As previously mentioned, the Man of the Match market is perhaps best used with ODI and T20 cricket. Meanwhile, the Top Batsman and Top Wicket-Taker markets are both great alternatives, should your betting interests lie elsewhere.