Toss, playing XI and late changes: the last 30 minutes before a match
Every prediction you read before the toss, ours included, is a forecast. The toss turns it into facts: who is playing, who bats first, and often what the captains think of the pitch.
What you learn at the toss
- The confirmed XIs. Changes from the probable XI are common: rest days, injuries, a second spinner on a dry pitch, an extra seamer on a green one.
- Who bats first. This decides who bats in the dew on a winter evening and who gets the best of a fresh pitch in a Test.
- The captains' reading of the pitch. "It looks dry, we will bowl first" or "should be good to bat on" are the most up-to-date pitch reports you will get.
- Batting order hints. A new opener or a promoted all-rounder changes who gets the most balls.
A five-minute checklist
- Remove any player not in the XI.
- Re-check your captain and vice-captain against the batting order.
- If dew is expected (see the venue page), favour the chasing side's batters and the first-innings seamers.
- If the pitch is dry and the side batting second has the better spinners, consider them for the second innings.
- Confirm role and team limits in your game are still met after changes.
Where to get the XIs
Use official sources: the broadcast, and the boards' official websites and social accounts. Yorker11 will summarise confirmed XIs in the "After the toss" section of each match brief and link to the official announcement.
A word on responsible play
Yorker11 is an editorial site. We don't run contests or link to real-money gaming platforms. Online money games are prohibited in India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. Our analysis is meant for understanding the cricket and for free-to-play games with friends.
FAQ
When are playing XIs announced?
Captains exchange team sheets at the toss. In international cricket the toss usually happens about half an hour before the scheduled start, and the teams are shown on the broadcast and the boards' official channels.
What if a player I picked is not in the XI?
Replace them before your game's deadline. In most scoring systems a player who does not play earns nothing, not even appearance points.
Will Yorker11 update match pages after the toss?
Yes. Each match brief has a section for the confirmed XIs, and we will revise our team and captain notes if the XIs change our view.