Betting refers to the activity wherein a person risks money or any other financial instrument on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a result with the aim of earning profit. An interchangeable term for betting is gambling. For a layman, these terms may sound to be synonymous but the difference lies in the way predictions are made. Gambling is based on the absolute lack of a gambler. Occurrence of the uncontrolled events decides the fate of a gambler. Betting, however, involves mindful predictions based on the study and calculations of the past performance of an individual or a team.
The Indian Premier League is famous for betting. Betting probably generates more revenue than the sponsors of the tournament. But someone’s gains are someone else’s losses. To ensure that you are not one to lose, keep reading the article as we bring to you some key strategies for betting on IPL matches in 2023.
- Weather
Weather is the most important factor affecting a match. The weather conditions of the day are considered even by the captains before they take their decisions after winning the toss. Clear skies and good weather add as the positives with the talent of a batsman. A clear sky means lesser swing which in turn means that the ball will be easier to predict. A shining bright sun soaks up the humidity on the pitch and adds to the speed of the ball when the batsman hits it. It is easier to take wickets when the weather is humid and there is some overcast weather. Seamers better bowl in overcast as it helps the ball with better swinging capabilities. Rain also works in favor of the fast bowlers.
Make sure to study the weather of the particular hours before making a bet. Post the weather, study the composition of the team. A team playing more seamers on a humid day is likely to have an advantage over the other side.
- Pitch Report
A pitch report, as the name suggests, is a summary of what a pitch looks like on a particular day. It may not be extremely helpful in a T20 match because T20 is a short format comprising a maximum of 40 overs. The match gets over in an average of 4 hours and the pitch looks the same in the first and the fortieth over. So, the game will proceed as is till the end. But how exactly it will proceed can be estimated by having an idea of whether the pitch will help the spinners or the fast bowlers or the batsmen.
- Match Information
Match information refers to information such as the date, time, and venue of the game. Knowing the venue can work wonders for the bettors because teams are likely to perform better on their home ground as they know that ground is the best. Plus the support from the audience keeps the spirits of the players high.
IPL is played during the day hours on the weekends. Foreign players might not be too adjusted to the environment in India and hence, days can treat them badly. This can even affect their game. But you can calculate it all and win big in your bet.
- Rivalries
Who doesn’t love nail-biting climaxes resulting in rivalries in IPL? Some teams perform amazingly against others but one of their rivals often has an upper hand over them. Sometimes, teams have big names or brothers playing against each other. IPL clashes don’t just happen on the ground but also in the minds and emotions of their fans. Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings is a historical rivalry. Such rivalries are best to play a bet in if you want to experience the joy and adventure that there is in the game. But if you have a weak heart, don’t bet on such matches.
- Do Not Trust Predictions Blindly
Cricket is believed to be a game of more luck than technique. Sometimes, the players might have luck on their side and other days might be absolute bummers. Losing by a run or a wicket are close calls. Players like Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes can change the course of a match in a matter of a few balls. In such cases, the predictions made by aggregators and cricket gurus might not hold water. It is therefore suggested that in such matches either do not invest your money or invest petty amounts.
- Fewer Bets
To win big, invest small. It is always better to invest in multiple bets of Rs. 500 each than invest all your money in one bet. A winner in betting is someone who knows that he/ she will lose. While you might take a bigger risk for higher profits, it is not advised because risk can go either way. You may win crores or may lose even the thousand that you invested. It is not necessary that all your bets go right, and neither is it sure that all of them will go wrong. So, it is better to maintain a 50-50 ratio.
- Stats are Not to be Trusted Completely
Just because Virat Kohli’s batting average is 52.7 does not mean he will always score a fifty. He might score a century one day and may get out for golden ducks on two other occasions. Numbers and rankings keep on fluctuating. It is better to look at a series of past performances and how the current season treated a particular player to make a more assured bet.
Conclusion
Play with your mind and not your heart! Don’t be a crazy RCB supporter and invest your money when you know that they haven’t won a single trophy. You can either be a fan or a bettor. Invest in who is likely to win and not who will win. Do not bet on the winner but on individual player performances where the match outcomes are hard to predict. Individual bets such as the best bowlers, the batsman with the highest runs, the number of wickets a player will take, and whether it will be a half-century or not, are likely to help you keep your money safe in matches where competition is close.
