On this page
- The Sky Exchange cricket screen, block by block
- Match odds: the exchange market
- The bookmaker block
- Fancy and session markets
- Session bets worked through
- Other fancy lines you may see
- Exposure when you bet in more than one block
- Rain, ties and shortened matches
- How markets differ by format
- Reading a match before you bet
- Choosing a market for your style
- When the cricket screen does something odd
- Cricket market mistakes we see every week
- Getting set up for match day
- Frequently asked questions
Sky Exchange cricket markets come in three blocks on every match screen. Match odds is the exchange market, where you back or lay a team against other players. Bookmaker is a separate block with quick moving rates on the same result. Fancy and session markets let you bet Yes or No on lines such as runs in the first six overs or the score when the first wicket falls. Each block has its own way of showing prices and its own rules for how bets settle, so it pays to learn them one by one.
We'll start with match odds because it's the foundation, then work through bookmaker rates, then the fancy list, where most of the confusion lives. If back, lay and liability are new to you, read how a betting exchange works first. This page assumes you know those three words.
- Match odds: back or lay each team, priced by players. Blue is back, pink is lay.
- Bookmaker: separate rates on the match result, often shown as whole numbers like 45 or 47.
- Fancy and session: Yes or No on a line. Yes wins at the Yes number or higher, No wins below the No number.
- Every market has a rules link. Rain, ties and shortened overs are handled there.
- All rupee figures on this page are illustrative examples only.
The Sky Exchange cricket screen, block by block
Open any live match and you'll see the same layout, give or take. At the top, the scorecard or a live score strip. Below it, the match odds block with both teams and their back and lay prices. Then the bookmaker block, usually with the same two teams and its own rates. Then a long list of fancy lines, each with a No number, a Yes number and a rate beneath each.
| Block | What you bet on | How prices look | When it settles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match odds | Which team wins (draw too in Tests) | Decimal odds, three back and three lay prices per team | At the end of the match |
| Bookmaker | Which team wins | Rates, often as whole numbers such as 45 or 82 | At the end of the match |
| Fancy / session | A line: runs, wickets or similar | No number and Yes number, with a rate under each | As soon as that line is decided |
The last column explains a lot about how people use the screen. Match odds and bookmaker bets stay open for hours. Session bets can settle in a few overs. That pace is what makes fancy lines popular during IPL evenings, and it's also why they need the most care.
A lot of first week questions come down to one thing: someone placed a bet in the bookmaker block thinking it was match odds, or the other way round, and then couldn't find it in the place they expected. Both are on the same screen and both are about the winner. Look at the block heading before you tap.
Match odds: the exchange market
Match odds works exactly like the exchange described on our other guide. Each team has back prices in blue and lay prices in pink. The numbers are decimal odds, and the smaller figures under them show how much money is waiting at each price. You can back the team you think will win or lay the team you think won't.
| Bet (illustrative T20) | Stake | Odds | If Team A wins | If Team B wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back Team A | ₹1,000 | 1.72 | +₹720 | −₹1,000 |
| Lay Team A | ₹1,000 | 1.74 | −₹740 | +₹1,000 |
| Back Team B | ₹1,000 | 2.36 | −₹1,000 | +₹1,360 |
Ignores commission, which some markets carry. The desk confirms the current position in the chat.
How a T20 match odds market moves
Before the toss, prices reflect team strength, venue and form. The toss moves them, sometimes a lot, depending on conditions and how the pitch is expected to play. During the first innings, the batting side's price moves with the run rate and wickets. During the chase, the market becomes very sensitive: every boundary and every dot ball nudges the price, and a wicket can swing it hard.
That sensitivity is why many players back or lay before the start and leave it, while others wait for a moment in the chase when they think the market has overreacted. Neither approach is guaranteed to work. They're just different styles.
Test matches and the draw
In a Test, match odds has three selections: Team A, Team B and the draw. That makes it a three way market. Laying Team A now wins if Team B wins or the match is drawn. As a Test goes into day four and five, the draw price can move dramatically, depending on weather and how much time is left. If you're used to T20, read a Test market slowly the first time.
Trading match odds
Because you can back and lay the same team, match odds is the block where trading out works best. Back a team at a longer price before the toss, and if their price shortens during the match you can lay them at the new price and lock a result. The formula and full examples are on the betting exchange explained page. The short version: lay stake = (back stake × back odds) ÷ current lay odds.
The bookmaker block
Below match odds you'll usually find a bookmaker market on the same match. It covers the same question, who wins, but it's priced and displayed differently. Rates update quickly, suspend often during big moments, and are typically shown as whole numbers rather than decimals.
Why have both? Many Indian players grew up with bookmaker style rates and find them quicker to read. The bookmaker block also tends to show one clean back rate and one lay rate per team, rather than a ladder of prices. Some players prefer it for speed during a chase. Others stick to match odds because they like seeing the depth of money at each price.
Reading bookmaker rates
On many panels, a bookmaker rate like 45 is read as 1.45 in decimal terms. The rate is what you win per 100 staked when backing. So a back at 45 with ₹1,000 wins ₹450. A lay at 47 risks ₹470 to win ₹1,000. Panels can display rates in slightly different ways, which is why the bet slip matters: it shows the exact profit and risk before you confirm. If anything on the slip looks different from what you expected, ask the desk before placing the bet.
| Bookmaker bet (illustrative) | Rate shown | Decimal reading | Stake | If favourite wins | If favourite loses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back favourite (lagai) | 45 | 1.45 | ₹1,000 | +₹450 | −₹1,000 |
| Lay favourite (khai) | 47 | 1.47 | ₹1,000 | −₹470 | +₹1,000 |
Example rates only. Always check the amounts printed on your own bet slip.
Converting rates in your head
Under the common reading, add one in front: a rate of 30 becomes 1.30, a rate of 85 becomes 1.85. The rate itself is your profit per ₹100 on a back. That makes quick sums easy during a match.
| Rate shown | Decimal reading | Back ₹500 wins | Lay ₹500 risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1.20 | ₹100 | ₹100 |
| 50 | 1.50 | ₹250 | ₹250 |
| 85 | 1.85 | ₹425 | ₹425 |
These are worked figures under the common reading, not live rates. As rates get close to 100 the two teams are nearly level, and once the favourite changes, the rates swap round to the other team. If your panel shows rates in another style, trust the slip.
Lagai and khai
You'll hear these words constantly in cricket chats. Lagai means backing the favourite, putting money on it to win. Khai means laying the favourite, which is like eating the other person's bet, and you win if the favourite doesn't win. On the exchange screen these map neatly to the blue back box and the pink lay box. The words are traditional, the maths is the same.
Match odds or bookmaker?
| Point | Match odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Price format | Decimal odds like 1.72 | Rates like 72, often whole numbers |
| Depth shown | Three prices each side with amounts | Usually one back and one lay rate |
| Price source | Players matched against each other | Set rates in a separate block |
| Suspensions | Short pauses after big moments | Often suspends more readily |
| Best for | Trading, seeing depth, longer holds | Quick bets for those used to rates |
| Rules | Its own market rules | Its own rules, which can differ on ties and void cases |
There's no right answer. What matters is comparing the two at the moment you want to bet, because one may offer a better price than the other at that instant. Convert the bookmaker rate to decimal in your head, compare it with the match odds box, and pick the better one.
Fancy and session markets
This is the part of the screen most new players find confusing, and the part where the desk gets the most "how did I lose that?" messages. Fancy markets let you bet on a specific line instead of the match result. The most common are session lines: how many runs a side scores by the end of a set over, such as 6, 10, 15 or 20 overs. Others cover the fall of a wicket, a batter's runs or similar figures. Which lines appear depends on the match.
How Yes and No work
Each fancy line shows two numbers. The lower one is the No number. The higher one is the Yes number. A bet on Yes wins if the final figure reaches the Yes number or goes above it. A bet on No wins if the final figure stays below the No number.
| Line: "10 over runs" (illustrative) | No 78 | Yes 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Score after 10 overs: 71 | No wins | Yes loses |
| Score after 10 overs: 77 | No wins | Yes loses |
| Score after 10 overs: 78 | No loses | Yes loses |
| Score after 10 overs: 79 | No loses | Yes loses |
| Score after 10 overs: 80 | No loses | Yes wins |
| Score after 10 overs: 92 | No loses | Yes wins |
Scores that land between the two numbers beat both sides. That gap is part of how the line is priced.
Read that table twice. The two middle rows are the ones people forget. A No bet at 78 doesn't win at 78. It needs 77 or fewer. And a Yes bet at 80 needs 80 or more, not 79.
What the rate means
Under each number there's a rate. At a rate of 100 the bet is even money: stake ₹500, win ₹500. Some lines show a different rate on one or both sides, which changes the payout. Rather than trying to memorise every format, use the bet slip. It prints your profit and your risk in rupees before you confirm. If the slip shows something you didn't expect, cancel and look again.
When a session line opens and closes
Session lines usually open before the overs they cover and close once those overs begin, or once the outcome is certain. New lines appear as the innings goes on. They suspend after almost every notable ball, wickets, boundaries, reviews, sometimes even a wide. When a line reopens, the numbers have often moved by several runs. This is normal and protects both sides from betting on old information.
The temptation with session lines is to bet on every one, every over. They settle quickly, so wins and losses come fast, and the evening's total stake can climb far beyond what you planned without it ever feeling like a big bet. Decide before the match how many fancy bets you'll place, and stop when you reach that number.
Session bets worked through
Here are three common situations, with illustrative stakes at even money rates.
A simple No on a slow start
The pitch looks dry and slow. The "6 over runs" line shows No 46, Yes 48. You think the openers will be cautious and take No 46 for ₹500. The powerplay ends at 41. Your No wins ₹500, and it settles straight away. If the score had been 46 or more, you'd have lost ₹500.
A Yes that misses by one
The "15 over runs" line is No 124, Yes 126. You take Yes 126 for ₹500 because the batting side has wickets in hand. They finish the 15th over on 125. One run short. Your Yes loses ₹500. Someone who took No 124 would also have lost, because 125 isn't below 124. Only the gap won.
Catching both sides when the line moves
This one shows why some players watch lines closely. Early in the innings, the "20 over runs" line is No 158, Yes 160, and you take Yes 160 for ₹500. The side goes on a run and the line moves to No 172, Yes 174. You now take No 172 for ₹500.
| Final 20 over score | Yes 160 (₹500) | No 172 (₹500) | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | −₹500 | +₹500 | ₹0 |
| 165 | +₹500 | +₹500 | +₹1,000 |
| 171 | +₹500 | +₹500 | +₹1,000 |
| 180 | +₹500 | −₹500 | ₹0 |
Illustrative, at even money rates. Any score from 160 to 171 wins both. Outside that range the two bets cancel.
That only worked because the line moved a long way in your favour. Lines can just as easily move against you, in which case taking the second side locks in a loss instead. It's a useful idea to understand, not a plan to count on.
Other fancy lines you may see
Beyond session runs, a match screen can list other fancy lines. Which ones appear varies by match and by the stage of the game, so treat this as a guide to what they mean rather than a promise they'll be there.
| Type of line | What it measures | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Session runs | Team runs at the end of a set over | Settles at that over. Void rules if overs are cut. |
| Fall of wicket | Team score when a named wicket falls | Can run for many overs if the partnership holds |
| Batter runs | Runs scored by a named batter | Rules for retired hurt or not batting are in the market rules |
| Partnership | Runs added by the current pair | Ends with the next wicket |
| Over runs | Runs in one specific over | Very fast. Read the rule on extras. |
| Odd or even style lines | A simple yes or no outcome | Close to a coin flip. Treat as pure chance. |
For any line you haven't used before, open its rules first. A batter runs line, for example, needs a rule for what happens if the batter retires hurt or never comes in. That rule decides your result, so read it before betting, not after.
Exposure when you bet in more than one block
Each block keeps its own book. A back on match odds, a lay in the bookmaker block and a session bet are three separate positions, even if they're all about the same team. Your account adds the worst case of each to your total exposure, and they don't offset each other the way two bets inside one market do.
| Open bets on one T20 (illustrative) | Block | Worst case |
|---|---|---|
| Back Team A ₹600 at 1.90 | Match odds | −₹600 if Team B wins |
| Lay Team A ₹500 at rate 92 (1.92) | Bookmaker | −₹460 if Team A wins |
| No 46 on "6 over runs", ₹300 at even money | Session | −₹300 if the score is 46 or more |
The first two bets point opposite ways on the same result, but they sit in different blocks, so each is held separately. Exposure shown could be ₹600 + ₹460 + ₹300 = ₹1,360 until positions settle.
Two practical points follow. First, if you want to hedge a match odds bet, hedging in the same block usually ties up less of your balance than hedging in a different one. Second, when your available balance looks lower than you expect during a match, count the open positions in every block, not just the one you're looking at. Session bets settle and release their exposure quickly. Match level bets hold theirs until the end.
Why hedging across blocks can still make sense
Sometimes the bookmaker block offers a better rate than match odds at the moment you want to cover a position, or match odds is suspended while bookmaker is open, or the other way round. Using the other block can be reasonable then. Just do the sum on the combined result yourself, because no single market screen will show it to you as one number.
Rain, ties and shortened matches
Cricket has more ways to be interrupted than most sports. Rain, bad light, a wet outfield or a reduced overs match can each change how your bets settle. The rules for each market decide the outcome, and they aren't always the same across the three blocks. Here's the general shape. Always check the rules for the specific market.
| Situation | Match odds (general pattern) | Session and fancy (general pattern) |
|---|---|---|
| Overs reduced, result reached | Usually settles on the official result, including any rain rule method | Lines already completed usually stand. Lines whose overs are not reached may be voided. |
| Match abandoned, no result | Usually voided as per the market rules | Completed lines usually stand, the rest are voided |
| Tied match with a super over | Check the rule: many markets follow the official winner after the super over | Super overs are usually not counted in innings lines |
| Bookmaker block | Has its own rules, which can differ from match odds on ties and void cases | |
We've written "usually" a lot there on purpose. We won't promise a settlement rule on this page because the market rules on your screen are what count. If the weather looks uncertain, read the rules before betting, or skip session lines until play settles down.
When rain arrives mid innings, the chat gets busy with people asking what happens to their session bets. The answer is always in the market rules, and we'll happily read it with you. But the best time to ask is before you bet, while you can still choose not to.
How markets differ by format
The same three blocks appear across formats, but they behave differently depending on the length of the game.
T20
The busiest by far. Short innings mean session lines move quickly, and match odds can swing on a single over late in the chase. Most of our players' activity happens in T20 leagues and internationals. The pace is the attraction and also the risk.
One day matches
Longer innings give session lines more room to develop. Lines at 10, 20, 30 and 40 overs are common shapes. Match odds tend to move in waves, with bigger swings around the middle overs and the final ten.
Test matches
Match odds has a draw option, and the session lines often cover parts of a day's play rather than set overs in a limited innings. Weather and time remaining matter more than in any other format. Prices can drift for hours and then move sharply after a collapse.
Leagues, internationals and domestic games
Big leagues and international matches tend to have the busiest markets, with narrow gaps between back and lay prices and plenty of fancy lines. Smaller domestic fixtures can have thinner markets, fewer lines and wider gaps. Thin markets move more on less money, so a price that looks generous may not stay there once you try to take it. Use smaller stakes on matches you haven't seen much of.
| Format | Match odds selections | Session pace | Main price drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| T20 | Two teams | Very fast | Toss, powerplay, wickets in the chase |
| One day | Two teams | Moderate | Middle overs, final ten, required rate |
| Test | Two teams plus draw | Slow, spread over days | Weather, time left, collapses, declarations |
Reading a match before you bet
Here's a simple routine for opening any Sky Exchange cricket match. It takes a couple of minutes and avoids most avoidable mistakes.
- Check the match itself. Format, venue, start time, and if it's already started, the score and overs. Make sure it's the match you think it is, not a similarly named fixture.
- Look at match odds first. Note the best back and lay price for each team. A narrow gap means a busy market.
- Compare with bookmaker. Convert the bookmaker rate to decimal and compare. Decide which block gives you the better price for the side you want.
- Scan the fancy list. Find one line you understand fully. Read its rules if you haven't before.
- Decide your plan. How many bets this match, and the most you'll risk on each. Write it down if that helps.
- Read the slip every time. Block heading, selection, back or lay, Yes or No, stake, and the profit or risk line.
- Stop at your number. When you hit your planned count or your loss limit, close the screen.
Choosing a market for your style
Different players lean towards different blocks. Here's how they compare from the point of view of someone deciding where to start.
Suits a beginner
- A pre match back on match odds, left until the result.
- One even money session line on a format you know well.
- Small stakes on a match you're watching live.
- Practising every block on a demo ID first.
Best left until you're experienced
- Laying long prices on match odds during a chase.
- Betting every session line in an innings.
- Switching between bookmaker and match odds to trade.
- Fancy lines with rules you haven't read.
If you want to try all three blocks without real money, the desk can send a demo ID with a practice balance. The Sky Exchange demo ID guide explains what to practise first. The demo screens are the same as a real account, including suspensions, so it's a fair test of how the markets feel in play.
When the cricket screen does something odd
Live cricket is fast, and the screen sometimes behaves in ways that look like errors. Most of them aren't. Here's what we see most often in the chat, what's usually behind it and what to try.
| What you notice | Usual cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Score on screen is behind the TV | Broadcasts and data feeds run at different delays | Trust the market, not your TV. Expect suspensions you can't yet "see". |
| A session line disappeared | Its overs began, or the result became certain | Look for the next line further down the list |
| Market stuck on suspended | A review, injury break or rain delay | Wait. Refresh after a minute. Ask the desk if it stays that way. |
| Bet placed but not in open bets | It was rejected, or the screen hadn't refreshed | Refresh, then check the statement. Message the desk with the time if unsure. |
| Match missing from the list | Not yet listed, or listed under a league name | Check the league section, or ask the desk if it is coming |
| App slower than the website | Old app file or weak signal | Install version 1.9.5 from the desk, or switch to Wi-Fi |
The first row catches out a lot of people. If you're watching on a stream with a delay of several seconds, the market already knows about a wicket you haven't seen yet. That's why the line suspends "for no reason" just before the wicket appears on your screen. It also means trying to beat the market using a TV picture rarely works.
When you do need help, the quickest fix comes from a message with the match name, the market or line, the time and a screenshot. "My bet is missing" on its own takes longer to trace than "Team A v Team B, 10 over runs, Yes 80, about 8:42 pm".
Cricket market mistakes we see every week
| Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking No 78 wins at 78 | The bet loses at exactly the No number | No needs a score below the No number |
| Thinking Yes 80 wins at 79 | The bet loses one run short | Yes needs the Yes number or more |
| Betting in the wrong block | A bookmaker bet when you wanted match odds | Read the block heading before tapping |
| Ignoring rain rules | Surprise voids on session lines | Read the market rules when weather is unsure |
| Chasing sessions after a loss | Total stake climbs fast | Fix the number of fancy bets before the match |
| Treating lay as cheap on favourites | A big liability on a short price drift | Check liability on the slip every time |
| Trusting session "tips" from groups | Paying for guesses, or worse, scams | No one can guarantee a session. Ignore paid tips. |
| Betting on an old app version | Lag and missed suspensions | Use app version 1.9.5 or the website |
Anyone selling "fixed" sessions, guaranteed match results or insider lines is running a scam. We don't sell tips and we don't work with tipping groups. If a group uses our name to sell predictions, it isn't us. Our safety guide covers how these scams usually work.
Getting set up for match day
If you've read this far, you know more about how Sky Exchange cricket markets work than most people who use them. The next steps depend on where you are.
If you're still learning, get a demo ID and try one session line and one match odds bet in the next match you watch. If you're ready for a real account, the Sky Exchange ID page explains how the desk opens one over WhatsApp. For betting during a match from your phone, the Sky Exchange app guide covers installing version 1.9.5 and fixing the usual install errors. And if you'd like the wider picture first, our guide to what Sky Exchange is covers how the desk, the ID and payments fit together.
Cricket is the best part of this for most of our players. Keep it that way. Fix a budget before the season starts, keep stakes small enough that a bad evening doesn't matter, and step back if you notice yourself chasing. You must be 18 or older, and online betting laws differ across Indian states, so check yours first. Our responsible gaming page has tools and contacts if you ever need a break.