Stake Sports arena: Watch and cheer for your favourite events

Goal of the game

The goal of cricket is to score more runs than the other team. The game has two parts: batting and bowling. The team batting hits the ball and runs between two wickets to score. The team bowling tries to get the batters out. The team with the most runs at the end of all innings wins.

Match formats

Cricket is played in different ways, each with its own speed and rules. These formats are made to suit different time limits and fan preferences. With different formats, everyone can enjoy the game, no matter how much time they have or which format they like.

Here are the popular formats of cricket:

Scoring and dismissal

Runs are scored by running between the wickets or hitting the ball to the boundary. A full run is when the batter runs to the other side. A six is scored if the ball goes over the boundary without bouncing. A four is scored if the ball bounces first before crossing the boundary. 

Teams can also get extras for mistakes, like wide balls or no-balls. A batter is out if they are bowled, caught, run out, or stumped. Dismissal can also happen when a batter is given out for leg before wicket (LBW). When a batter is out, the next one comes in, and the team keeps going until all players are out or the innings end.

Key players and roles

Each team consists of players with special roles, each with various skills. Batters try to score runs by hitting the ball with different types of shots. They face bowlers, who try to get them out by using speed or spin to hit the stumps. 

Fielders help by stopping the ball, catching it, or running the batter out. The wicketkeeper stands behind the batter. They catch missed balls, try to stump the batter, and help with runouts.

Innings and overs

An innings is the time when one team bats and tries to score runs. The other team bowls and fields to try and get the batters out. An innings ends when all the batters are out or when a set number of overs is done. An over has six legal balls bowled by one bowler. 

In short matches like ODIs and T20s, each team has a set number of overs. In Test matches, each team bats twice, and they keep bowling until the innings is done. Overs limit how many balls are used, affecting how teams plan their batting and bowling.

Points, games, and sets

Players must win a series of points to win a game. A game is won by the first player to score four points and have a two-point lead. If the score is 40-40, it’s called deuce. Players then need to win two points in a row to win the game. 

A set has several games. The first player to win six games with a two-game lead wins the set. A player must win the required number of sets to win the match.

Serving and turns

The game starts with a serve. The server, with two chances to serve, stands behind the baseline and hits the ball into the opposite service box. If the first serve doesn’t land in the box, it’s called a fault. If both serves are faults, it’s a double fault and the opponent gets a point. 

Players take turns serving each game. The server also switches sides of the court after each point, starting from the right side. The turn continues until a winner is decided for the game.

Court and boundaries

A tennis court is rectangular, with a net in the middle. The court has lines marking different areas: the baseline at the back, the service boxes on each side of the centre line, and the sidelines marking the edges. 

The ball must land inside these lines to keep playing. If it lands outside, it’s out, and the opponent wins the point. In doubles, the alleys on the sides are part of the court.

Winning, faults, and let rules

A fault happens if the server misses the proper service box. The server gets one more try. If the second serve also misses, the opponent gets a point. 

Meanwhile, a let happens when the ball touches the net but lands in the service box. This means the point is replayed with no penalty. A player wins a point when the ball lands on the opponent’s side inside the boundaries.

Teams and objectives

Kabaddi is played by two teams, each team with seven players. The goal is to get more points than the other team before the match ends. Teams take turns sending one player, called the raider, to the other side.

The raider tries to tag players and run back without being caught. One team attacks while the other blocks. The team with the most points after both halves wins.

Raid, defence, and tackles

A raid starts when a raider steps onto the other team’s side. The goal is to tag defenders and run back without being tackled. The raider must keep saying 'kabaddi' without taking a breath, making timing crucial. 

Defenders move together to block or tackle the raider. If the raider tags players and gets back safely, the team gets points. If the raider is stopped, the other team gets points, and the raider sits out.

Getting players out and reviving

Players are out if a raider tags them or tackles them during a raid. They can come back if their team gets a revival. A revival happens when a raider tags a defender or escapes safely. Smart teams know when to score points and when to get revivals.

Match format and winning

Kabaddi matches have two 20-minute halves with a short break in between. Each team gets equal chances to raid and defend. The final score adds up raid points, tackle points, and bonuses like all-outs. Leagues like the PKL also add rules like bonus lines and do-or-die raids to make it more exciting.