Batting order and fantasy points: why position matters more than name
Short answer: Batting position is the best single predictor of how many balls a batter will face. In a T20 the top three usually face most of the innings and a number six or seven may face only a few balls; in an ODI the top five do most of the batting. Pick batters by expected position first, then by form and conditions, and recheck the order once the XIs are named.
Fantasy batting points come from balls faced. A batter cannot score without deliveries, and the number of deliveries available depends heavily on where they bat.
How many balls each position tends to get
There is no official table for this, and it varies by match, but the logic is simple:
- T20 (120 balls per innings): openers face the new ball and can bat through; the number three often comes in during the powerplay. By number six, there may be only a few overs left.
- ODI (300 balls): the top five usually share most of the innings. Numbers six and seven get meaningful time when the top order fails or at the death.
- Test: there is no ball limit, so lower-order batters can bat for a long time, and a nightwatchman may come in out of order.
Three practical rules
- Pick the role, then the player. Decide how many top-order batters you want from each side, then choose between them on form and conditions.
- Respect the chase. In a small chase, the top three may finish the game and the middle order never bats. In a big chase, more batters face balls, and the scoring rate matters.
- Value two routes to points. A batter at six or seven who also bowls four (T20) or ten (ODI) overs is a different pick from a pure lower-order batter.
Reading changes at the toss
The XI is named at the toss, and the order usually follows soon after. Watch for:
- A promoted hitter opening or batting at three in a T20: a strong signal for that player.
- A specialist batter dropped down to make room: their value falls.
- An extra bowler in the XI: the batting gets shorter, so the top order carries more weight.
Our match pages are updated after the toss; see toss and playing XI updates.
Grounds change the picture
On small grounds, such as Indore, lower-order hitters can score quickly in a few balls. On big grounds, such as Raipur, the top order's ability to rotate strike and run twos matters more.
Related guides
FAQ
Is a famous middle-order batter a safe pick?
Not in a T20 if they bat at five or six. They may face very few balls when the top order does well. Reputation does not change the number of deliveries left.
When is a lower-order batter worth picking?
When you expect a collapse, when the team is batting first on a high-scoring ground, or when the player also bowls their full quota, so you get points either way.
Does the batting order stay fixed?
No. Teams use floaters, promote hitters in a chase and send nightwatchmen in Tests. That is why we confirm the order after the toss.