Top Batsman Betting Odds

Nothing beats cricket when it comes to popular betting markets in India.

Cricket is the most watched and most-wagered-on sport in the country, accounting for around 80% of all bets.

Of course, a large part of this is due to the general popularity of the sport.

This is not the only reason, though.

Cricket has so many formats, tournaments and betting lines that the sport offers bettors great variety as well as plenty of betting opportunities.

The rise of online sportsbooks has made betting much more accessible, attractive, and convenient to customers too.

Bettors can place wagers quickly and easily from the comfort of their own homes or even on the move via cricket betting apps.

Deciding what to bet on is another matter though, so let’s take a look at one of the most common cricket betting markets – Top Batsman.

Top Batsman Betting Odds Explained

This bet is about the batsman who gives the best performance, specifically who will score the most runs.

However, this can come in different forms.

You can bet on the top batsman overall, the top batsman for each team, or the top batsman for each innings.

The top batsman odds appear as a list of players with the odds beside them.

This is an example taken from a recent One Day International (ODI) between India and Australia.

Top Batsman India – 1st Innings	Top Batsman Australia – 1st Innings
Gill, Shubman 3.55	Smith, Stephen 3.60
Rahul, KL 4.40	Warner, David 3.75
Iyer, Shreyas 5.00	Labuschagne, Marnus 4.10
Gaikwad, Ruturaj 5.10	Marsh, Mitchell 4.60
Kishan, Ishan 5.40	Short, Matt 5.60

The batsmen at the top of both lists are the favourites to score the most runs and you can see this because the odds are the lowest.

As with all betting markets, the more likely something is to happen, the lower the odds will be and vice versa.

If you’re looking to place a top batsman bet, then make sure you understand the odds before you bet.

Top Batsman Market Overview

The top batsman market is a popular one.

This is due to several factors.

Firstly, it’s very simple to place.

You simply choose the player you think has the best chance of scoring the most runs, click on the odds and place your bet.

It is also popular because you can apply some prior knowledge of the teams and players to your predictions and, most importantly, the odds are good.

You can see in the above example that even the favourites have odds of around 3.50, meaning you can make a decent return for your money.

For example, if you were to place a 1,000 INR bet on Shubman Gill to be the top batsman in the above match, then you would get a decent return of 3,550 INR.

If you compare this to the odds of India winning the match outright, which were 1.80, this would give you a smaller 1,800 INR return instead.

The downside, though, is that there are a lot of factors in play to win this bet and it is harder to predict.

The ground, the conditions, the toss, the batting order, the bowlers and each player’s current form all play a vital role in determining who the top batsman will be.

Another element to consider is the live betting markets.

Live betting allows you to place bets after the match has started and enables bettors to assess early play to help them with their predictions.

You can still place top batsman bets even while the play is ongoing, taking into account how the game is progressing and the performances of the top-order batsmen.

However, be aware that the bookies are watching too and adjust their odds accordingly.

Top Batsman Betting Rules

Betting on who you think will score the most runs seems quite simple in itself.

However, there are a few factors you need to consider before you place your bet. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Know Your Bet

The top batsman bet is not directly linked to the result of the match in any way.

You are betting specifically on whether the player you have selected scores the most runs.

It doesn’t matter if that team wins or loses, you can still win your bet.

However, if another player scores more runs than your backed player, then you lose.

Respect The Odds

The bookies have chosen their favourites for a reason.

They have conducted extensive analysis and research and determined that the players with the lowest odds are the ones more likely to score the most runs.

You don’t have to agree or bet on the favourites, but you should use them as a guide.

No Batting, No Win

If your batsman doesn’t get to bat, then the bet is lost.

This is unlike other sports such as football where a bet is voided if you wager on an unused substitute who doesn’t get to play.

If your player is in the team line-up and they don’t get a chance to bat, then your wager is lost.

Top Batsman Betting Strategy

It is always recommended to have a betting strategy so that you can apply some order and reason to your betting rather than it just being random.

Statistics show that following betting strategies does increase your chances of winning. Here are three cricket betting strategies you can apply to the top batsman markets.

Look At In-form Players

Cricketers, just like most sportspeople, play better when they have momentum.

With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to look at the recent batting form of each player.

You may have a big name in there, but if they haven’t had recent good form, then it might be better to choose someone who has.

Look at the last five innings in the specific cricket format you are betting on to get a good idea, as well as each batsman’s previous performances against the current opposition.

Consider The Opposition Bowling Attack

The performance of a batsman is highly influenced by the type of bowler they face or even who they face.

Few, for example, would have been brave enough to back David Warner to top score when he was playing against Stuart Broad given Broad’s record of dismissing him.

Some batsmen play better against spin bowlers, reverse swing or pace attack, whereas some can’t handle certain types of delivery.

To assess the likelihood of a batsman scoring the most runs, you can’t take their form in isolation. The opposition attack must be considered too.

Assess The Conditions & Batting Order

The conditions in cricket play a huge factor in the outcome of the match and this shouldn’t be underestimated.

A flat wicket means you can expect lots of runs, but a greener wicket can favour the bowler. If the wicket is greener, it can lead to early wickets being lost.

This means you may want to reconsider backing a top-order batsman to top score.

Furthermore, the home team is often favoured because they are more used to the conditions. Take this into consideration too.