Most Common IPL Bets – Popular IPL Betting Markets Explained

The Indian Premier League creates a large number of betting markets because every match contains hundreds of individual events. Apart from predicting the match winner, markets can be based on team totals, individual player performances, wickets, sixes, boundaries and particular stages of an innings.

The most common IPL bets include Match Winner, Top Batter, Top Bowler, Total Runs Over/Under, Player Runs, Player Wickets, Total Sixes, Highest Opening Partnership, Powerplay Runs, Toss Winner and Tournament Winner. Some markets are settled on the complete match, while others focus on one player, one innings or even a particular over.

Betting laws differ by country and region, so availability of these markets does not mean real-money betting is legal everywhere. Anyone viewing betting markets should follow the laws that apply where they live.

Most Popular IPL Betting Markets

Betting Market What It Means
Match Winner Predict which team wins the match
Tournament Winner Predict which team wins the IPL title
Top Batter Predict the highest run-scorer
Top Bowler Predict the leading wicket-taker
Player Runs Over/under a player's run line
Player Wickets Predict a bowler's wicket total
Team Total Runs Over/under the team's final score
Total Match Runs Combined runs scored by both teams
Total Sixes Over/under number of sixes
Most Sixes Team or player to hit more sixes
Powerplay Runs Runs scored in the first six overs
Opening Partnership Runs scored before the first wicket
Highest Partnership Team with the biggest partnership
Toss Winner Predict which team wins the toss
First Wicket Market based on the first dismissal
Live/In-Play Markets Markets offered after the match starts

1. IPL Match Winner

The Match Winner market is one of the simplest and most common IPL betting markets.

It asks which team will win the match.

For example:

Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians

The market normally provides one selection for CSK and another for MI.

If the match has special playing conditions, bookmakers may have separate rules covering abandoned games, tied matches and Super Overs.

Because IPL matches rarely end as traditional draws, this market is generally easier to understand than match-result markets in Test cricket.

How the Match Winner Market Works

The result is normally based on the official winner of the IPL match.

Suppose the fixture is:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders

The available selections might simply be:

RCB to win

KKR to win

The final match result determines which selection is successful.

A Super Over result will normally count toward the match winner where the operator’s rules state that the Super Over is included.

2. IPL Tournament Winner

The Tournament Winner market covers the complete IPL season rather than one match.

A selection is made on which franchise will become IPL champion.

Examples can include:

Chennai Super Kings

Mumbai Indians

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Kolkata Knight Riders

Rajasthan Royals

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Gujarat Titans

Punjab Kings

Delhi Capitals

Lucknow Super Giants

This market usually opens before the tournament begins and remains available during much of the season.

The final IPL champion settles the market.

Tournament Winner vs Match Winner

The two markets should not be confused.

Match Winner: Covers one particular IPL match.

Tournament Winner: Covers the complete IPL championship.

A team can lose several league matches and still eventually win the tournament, so the two markets measure very different outcomes.

3. Top Batter

The Top Batter or Top Run-Scorer market asks which player will score the most runs for a team or in the complete match.

For example, in an RCB match, selections could include leading batters from the playing XI.

The player finishing with the highest individual score among the players covered by the market wins that selection.

Different versions can include:

Team Top Batter

or

Match Top Batter

The market title should always be checked because these are not the same bet.

Team Top Batter

This market applies to only one side.

For example:

Mumbai Indians Top Batter

The player who scores the most runs for Mumbai wins the market.

If MI’s scores include:

Player A – 72

Player B – 41

Player C – 25

Player A would be the team’s top batter.

Match Top Batter

A Match Top Batter market compares players from both teams.

If one player scores 84 for CSK and another scores 76 for MI, the CSK batter would finish as the match’s highest run-scorer.

Operators can have specific tie rules if two players finish with the same score.

4. Top Bowler

The Top Bowler market works in a similar way but is based on wickets.

It can be offered as:

Team Top Bowler

or

Match Top Bowler

For a team market, the bowler with the most wickets for that franchise wins.

For a match market, bowlers from both teams are compared.

If multiple bowlers finish with equal wickets, market rules may use a tie settlement or another stated method.

Example of a Top Bowler Market

Suppose three bowlers finish with:

Bowler A – 3 wickets

Bowler B – 2 wickets

Bowler C – 1 wicket

Bowler A is the top wicket-taker.

Wickets credited to the bowler normally count, while run-outs are not credited as bowling wickets.

5. Player Runs Over/Under

Player run totals are among the most common IPL player prop markets.

A line is set for the number of runs a batter will score.

For example:

Player Runs – 29.5

The selections would normally be:

Over 29.5

or

Under 29.5

If the batter scores 30 or more, the Over side wins.

If he scores 29 or fewer, the Under side wins.

Using a half-run line avoids an exact tie.

Player Run Lines

Different batters receive different run lines.

An opener who regularly faces many deliveries may receive a higher line than a lower-order finisher.

Possible lines could include:

19.5 runs

24.5 runs

29.5 runs

34.5 runs

39.5 runs

The number itself depends on the particular market.

6. Player to Score 50

Another player market asks whether a batter will score a half-century.

This may appear as:

Player to Score 50+ Runs

A player normally needs at least 50 runs for the selection to succeed.

It is different from a Top Batter market because the player does not need to outscore everyone else.

A batter could score 55 while another player scores 90 and still satisfy a 50+ runs market.

7. Player to Score a Century

Some IPL markets are based on whether a batter will reach 100.

This may be listed as:

Player to Score a Century

or

Century in the Match – Yes/No

IPL hundreds are less common than fifties, so this is a much narrower event.

A score of 99 would not count as a century.

The batter needs to reach at least 100 runs.

8. Player Wickets

Player wicket markets focus on an individual bowler.

A typical market may set a line such as:

Bowler Wickets – 1.5

That creates two sides:

Over 1.5 wickets

Under 1.5 wickets

Two or more wickets satisfy the Over selection.

Zero or one wicket satisfies the Under selection.

Again, run-outs are not normally credited to an individual bowler.

Player to Take 2+ Wickets

Some markets use fixed milestones instead of over/under lines.

Examples include:

Player to take 1+ wicket

Player to take 2+ wickets

Player to take 3+ wickets

The bowler must reach the listed total.

A 2+ wickets market succeeds if the bowler takes two, three, four or more wickets.

9. Team Total Runs

Team Total Runs is an Over/Under market based on the score of one team.

For example:

Chennai Super Kings Total Runs – 179.5

The two choices are:

Over 179.5

or

Under 179.5

A score of 180 or more falls on the Over side.

A score of 179 or less falls on the Under side.

First-Innings Team Total

Many team-total markets are based specifically on the first innings.

This is useful because the team batting second may not use all 20 overs if it completes the chase early.

The market name may therefore specify:

First Innings Runs

Team Total

or

20-Over Total

The exact settlement rules can differ.

10. Total Match Runs

A Total Match Runs market combines the runs scored by both teams.

For example:

Team A: 190

Team B: 181

Combined match runs:

371

That total is compared with the line listed in the market.

This market is affected by both batting innings rather than the performance of one team.

11. Total Sixes in the Match

The IPL is famous for six-hitting, so Total Sixes is another common market.

A line could be set for the combined number of sixes hit by both teams.

For example:

Total Match Sixes – 14.5

Fifteen or more sixes would fall on the Over side.

Fourteen or fewer would fall on the Under side.

Every legal six scored in the match normally contributes to the total.

12. Most Sixes

Instead of predicting the total number, another market compares which team will hit more sixes.

For example:

Most Sixes

Mumbai Indians

Chennai Super Kings

Tie

If MI hit 12 sixes and CSK hit eight, MI wins the market.

Some versions compare individual players rather than teams.

Player Most Sixes

A Player Most Sixes market asks which batter will hit the highest number of sixes.

A player does not necessarily need to be the highest run-scorer.

For example, one batter may score 70 with three sixes, while another makes 45 with five sixes.

The second batter would lead the sixes market.

13. Total Fours

The same concept can be used for fours.

A market can ask whether the match will produce more or fewer fours than a listed line.

It can also compare which team will hit the most fours.

Because fours occur more frequently than sixes in many matches, the totals are normally higher.

14. Total Boundaries

Some markets combine fours and sixes into one boundary total.

For example:

Team A hits:

18 fours + 9 sixes = 27 boundaries

Team B hits:

15 fours + 7 sixes = 22 boundaries

The match contains 49 combined boundaries.

This is different from a total-runs market because only fours and sixes are counted.

15. Powerplay Runs

The IPL powerplay covers the first six overs of an innings.

Powerplay Runs markets are based on how many runs a team scores during those six overs.

A market may use an Over/Under line such as:

Powerplay Runs – 51.5

The final score after six completed overs determines the outcome.

This market focuses only on the beginning of the innings rather than the complete 20 overs.

Highest Powerplay Score

Another version compares the two teams.

The question is:

Which team will score more runs in the powerplay?

If CSK score 58/1 from six overs and MI score 47/2, CSK have the higher powerplay score.

Wickets normally do not directly determine the result unless specific market rules say otherwise.

16. First Six Overs Total

This is closely related to Powerplay Runs.

The market may ask for:

Runs After 6 Overs

or

First 6 Overs Total

The result is the team’s score when the six-over stage is completed.

Because the powerplay is one of the most aggressive parts of an IPL innings, these markets are common in T20 cricket.

17. Opening Partnership Runs

An Opening Partnership market focuses on the number of runs scored before the first wicket falls.

For example:

If a team reaches 63/1, the opening partnership was 63 runs, assuming the first wicket ended that opening stand.

Markets can be offered as:

Over/Under opening partnership

Highest opening partnership

Team with the bigger opening stand

Highest Opening Partnership

This market compares the opening stands of both teams.

For example:

Team A opening partnership – 54

Team B opening partnership – 31

Team A has the highest opening partnership.

A partnership can also end through a retirement or another event depending on the official scorecard and market rules.

18. Highest Partnership

Rather than focusing only on the openers, the Highest Partnership market considers the biggest partnership anywhere in the innings.

For example:

First wicket: 42

Second wicket: 18

Third wicket: 91

Fourth wicket: 22

The highest partnership is 91.

Some markets compare the highest partnership of both teams.

19. Fall of First Wicket

This market predicts the team score when the first wicket falls.

For example:

First Wicket Runs – 35.5

If the first wicket falls at 40, the result is Over.

If it falls at 30, the result is Under.

It is closely connected with opening partnership markets but settlement details may differ in unusual situations.

20. Method of First Dismissal

Another market focuses on how the first wicket will fall.

Possible selections may include:

Caught

Bowled

LBW

Run out

Stumped

Other dismissal

The official method recorded in the scorecard determines the outcome.

Caught is often a broad category because many cricket dismissals occur through catches.

21. First Wicket Taker

This market asks which bowler will take the first wicket credited to a bowler.

Suppose a fast bowler dismisses an opener in the second over.

That bowler becomes the first wicket-taking bowler.

A run-out can create special settlement situations because no bowler receives credit for the wicket, so operator rules matter.

22. Toss Winner

Toss Winner is one of the simplest cricket markets.

It predicts which captain will win the coin toss before the match.

The result has nothing to do with which team eventually wins the game.

For example:

CSK win toss

or

MI win toss

The market is settled immediately after the official toss.

Toss Winner vs Match Winner

These are completely separate events.

Winning the toss does not mean a team will win the match.

The toss only determines which captain gets the first choice of batting or bowling.

The Match Winner market is settled from the actual game result.

23. Team to Hit a Six

This market asks whether a particular team will hit at least one six.

It may appear as:

Team to Hit a Six – Yes/No

Because sixes are common in the IPL, there can also be versions based on the first few overs or a particular phase of the innings.

24. Player to Hit a Six

The same market can apply to an individual batter.

Player to Hit a Six – Yes/No

The player must hit at least one delivery over the boundary without bouncing.

Fours do not count.

This market is different from Player Total Sixes, where a specific numerical line is used.

25. Player Total Sixes

A player’s six total can be offered as an Over/Under market.

For example:

Player Sixes – 1.5

Two or more sixes fall on the Over side.

Zero or one falls on the Under side.

Power hitters and top-order batters are frequently included in these markets.

26. Highest Individual Score

This market is based on the highest individual innings in the match.

The market may provide a line such as:

Highest Individual Score – 74.5

If the best batter in the match scores 75 or more, the result is Over.

If nobody scores more than 74, the result is Under.

This market does not require predicting the identity of the batter.

27. Total Wickets

Total Wickets counts dismissals during the match or a particular innings.

For example:

Team A loses 7 wickets.

Team B loses 5 wickets.

Total wickets:

12

That figure is compared with the listed market line.

A chase ending early can significantly affect the total because the second batting team may lose only a few wickets.

28. Team to Lose First Wicket

This market compares which side loses its first wicket at a lower score.

It can also appear as:

First Team to Lose a Wicket

Settlement depends on how the market has been written.

It should not be confused with predicting which bowler takes the first wicket.

29. Highest Scoring Over

A market may focus on the biggest over of the match.

For example:

Highest Scoring Over – Over/Under 20.5 Runs

If any completed over produces 21 or more runs, the Over side succeeds.

Runs from extras normally form part of the official over total.

30. Runs in a Specific Over

Some markets focus on one particular over.

Examples include:

Runs in Over 1

Runs in Over 6

Runs in Over 20

The market can be based on total runs or an Over/Under line.

The 20th over often attracts attention because batters normally attack heavily at the end of an innings.

31. Next Over Runs

During live matches, markets can appear for the next over.

For example:

Next Over Total Runs – 8.5

The result depends only on the specified over.

Because this is an in-play market, it does not normally exist until the match is underway.

32. Next Wicket Market

A live market may ask which player will be dismissed next.

Another variation can ask how the wicket will fall.

These markets change quickly because they depend on the current batters and match situation.

They are among the more specific forms of live cricket markets.

33. Next Ball Markets

Some live markets can focus on a single delivery.

Possible outcomes can include:

Dot ball

1 run

2 runs

4

6

Wicket

These are extremely short-duration markets.

A new market may become available after almost every delivery.

34. Live or In-Play IPL Betting Markets

Live betting refers to markets offered after the match has started.

The available selections continually change as the score, wickets and required run rate change.

Common live IPL markets include:

Current Match Winner

Next Wicket

Next Over Runs

Team Total

Batter Runs

Bowler Wickets

Next Boundary

Total Sixes

Partnership Runs

Live markets can disappear or change within seconds because the match continues while they are available.

Pre-Match vs Live IPL Markets

Pre-Match Markets Live Markets
Match Winner Updated Match Winner
Tournament Winner Next Over Runs
Top Batter Next Wicket
Top Bowler Current Partnership
Player Runs Batter Live Runs
Total Sixes Next Boundary
Team Total Revised Team Total

Pre-match markets are available before play begins.

Live markets depend on events taking place after the first ball.

35. IPL Orange Cap Winner

Season-long player betting can include the Orange Cap winner.

The Orange Cap goes to the batter who finishes the IPL season with the most runs.

Instead of predicting one match, the market remains connected to performances throughout the tournament.

Players can move significantly up or down the run chart as the season progresses.

36. IPL Purple Cap Winner

The bowling equivalent is the Purple Cap winner.

This market asks which bowler will finish the IPL season with the most wickets.

The final wicket standings at the end of the tournament determine the winner.

Because playoff teams play additional matches, bowlers from those franchises can receive extra opportunities to add wickets.

37. Team to Reach the Playoffs

Some season-long markets focus on whether a franchise will qualify for the playoffs.

This can appear as:

Team to Reach Playoffs – Yes/No

Qualification depends on the official IPL league standings and tiebreak procedures.

It is separate from predicting the tournament winner.

A team can reach the playoffs without winning the title.

38. Team to Finish Top of the IPL Table

Another season market covers the league standings.

The selected team must finish first after the league stage.

Winning the IPL title is not required.

A team can finish first during the league phase and then lose in the playoffs.

39. IPL Finalists

Some markets ask which teams will reach the IPL final.

This is different from choosing the tournament winner because both finalists can satisfy relevant selections depending on how the market is structured.

The result is known after the playoff stage is completed.

Match Markets vs Player Props

IPL betting markets can broadly be separated into two categories.

Match Markets

These depend mainly on team results.

Examples:

Match Winner

Team Total

Highest Powerplay

Most Sixes

Highest Partnership

Player Props

These depend on one player’s statistics.

Examples:

Player Runs

Player Wickets

Player Sixes

Player to Score 50

Top Batter

Top Bowler

A player prop can be settled even when his team loses the match.

Over/Under IPL Markets Explained

Over/Under markets are used throughout IPL betting.

A number is set as the line.

For example:

Total Sixes – 13.5

The number 13.5 means there cannot be an exact tie.

The outcomes are simply:

Over: 14 or more

Under: 13 or fewer

The same structure is used for runs, wickets, boundaries, partnerships and individual player statistics.

Why Betting Markets Use .5 Lines

Half-number lines such as 29.5 or 179.5 remove the possibility of an exact tie.

A cricket team cannot score 179.5 runs.

A batter cannot score 29.5 runs.

Therefore, the final result must fall either above or below the listed number.

This makes settlement straightforward.

Common IPL Player Betting Markets

The most common player-specific markets include:

Player total runs

Player total wickets

Player total sixes

Player total fours

Player to score 30+

Player to score 50+

Player to score 100

Player to take 2+ wickets

Top team batter

Top match batter

Top team bowler

Top match bowler

These markets are settled using the player’s official match statistics.

Common IPL Team Betting Markets

The main team-based markets include:

Match winner

Team total runs

Team total sixes

Team total fours

Powerplay score

Opening partnership

Highest partnership

Total wickets lost

Highest scoring team

Team to qualify

Tournament winner

Some apply to a single match, while others remain open throughout the IPL season.

Which Is the Most Common IPL Bet?

Match Winner is generally the most straightforward and widely recognized IPL betting market.

It requires only a prediction of which team wins the match.

Other widely available markets include:

Top Batter

Top Bowler

Team Total Runs

Player Runs

Total Sixes

and

Powerplay Runs

IPL matches contain many smaller statistical events, which is why cricket has a particularly large number of betting-market types.

Important Points About IPL Betting Markets

The name of a market may look similar across different platforms, but settlement rules can vary.

Important details can include:

Whether Super Overs count

What happens if a player does not play

What happens in an abandoned match

Whether shortened matches are valid

How tied top-batter markets are settled

Whether substitute players count

Whether extras count in a particular market

Minimum overs required for settlement

The written market rules determine how a particular selection is settled.

IPL Betting and Local Laws

Real-money sports betting is regulated differently around the world.

A betting market being visible online does not automatically make participation legal in a user’s location.

Rules can also change over time.

Anyone considering real-money betting should first check the laws that apply in their country, state or region and comply with applicable age restrictions.

FAQs

What are the most common IPL bets?

The most common markets include Match Winner, Top Batter, Top Bowler, Player Runs, Team Total Runs, Total Sixes, Powerplay Runs and Tournament Winner.

What is an IPL Match Winner bet?

It is a market based on predicting which team will officially win a particular IPL match.

What is an IPL Top Batter market?

It predicts which batter will score the most runs for a team or in the complete match, depending on the market description.

What is a Top Bowler market?

It predicts the bowler who will take the most wickets in a team or match.

What does Over/Under mean in IPL betting?

A numerical line is provided. The final statistic must finish above the line for Over or below it for Under.

What does Player Runs 29.5 mean?

It means the market is split between 30 or more runs and 29 or fewer runs.

What is an IPL Powerplay Runs market?

It covers the number of runs scored during the first six overs of an innings.

What is a Total Sixes market?

It predicts whether the combined number of sixes will finish above or below a listed total.

What is a Player Wickets market?

It is based on how many wickets an individual bowler takes.

What is an Opening Partnership market?

It is based on the number of runs scored before the opening partnership ends.

What is live IPL betting?

Live or in-play markets are offered after the match has begun and change according to current match events.

What is the IPL Tournament Winner market?

It predicts which franchise will eventually win the IPL championship.

What is an Orange Cap market?

It predicts which batter will finish the season with the most IPL runs.

What is a Purple Cap market?

It predicts which bowler will finish the season with the most wickets.

Is IPL betting legal everywhere?

No. Sports-betting laws vary significantly by location, and real-money betting may be restricted or prohibited in some jurisdictions.

Moonda Ale

Cricket Content Writer at Cricfacts.com.  A seasoned sports journalist who is working in the industry for more than two decades. He is now on facebook also.