Team previews — probable XI, last-5 form, venue index
Each IPL team's probable-XI treatment, last-5 form tracker, venue index, and captain candidate. Filed nightly during the season; filed once at squad announcement off-season.
The probable-XI treatment
For each match window, the desk files a probable XI based on three inputs: the squad announcement, the last-5 selection pattern, and the surface read. The probable XI is a working draft — it is filed in the public domain as a candidate, not as the actual XI. The actual XI is confirmed at the toss; the desk updates the home ledger within fifteen minutes.
The last-5 form tracker
The last-5 form tracker is a small table with three columns: matches played, fantasy points, role multiplier. The desk weights last-5 at 50%, last-10 at 30%, and season-long at 20%. Players in form carry a structural ceiling advantage; players out of form carry a structural floor risk.
The venue index
Each IPL ground has a venue index — average first-innings score, pacer share, spinner share, dew factor. Chepauk favours spin; Wankhede is pace-neutral with a high dew factor; Eden Gardens has small boundaries and a balanced surface. The desk surfaces the venue index on each team-previews card.
How to read a team preview
Read the probable XI. Read the last-5 form tracker. Read the venue index. Read the captain candidate. Combine the four with your own judgement. Lock in at least ten minutes before the toss. The desk surfaces the read; readers decide.
Where the captain candidate comes from
The captain candidate is drawn from the captain-logic principles on the fantasy-tips desk. The desk picks from a small set: a top-order batter at a familiar venue, a seam-bowling allrounder on a green surface, or a wrist-spinner at Chepauk. Each captain candidate has a worked ceiling and floor; readers pick the one that matches their contest ladder.
Filed by the desk — a deeper read
Each team-preview on Sleeper follows a four-section structure: probable XI, last-5 form tracker, venue index, captain candidate. The probable XI is sourced from the squad announcement and the last-5 selection pattern; the last-5 form tracker is a small table with matches played, fantasy points, and role multiplier; the venue index covers average first-innings score, pacer share, spinner share, and dew factor.
The probable XI is filed within four hours of the squad announcement. It is a working draft, not the actual XI; the actual XI is confirmed at the toss and the desk updates the home ledger within fifteen minutes. The probable XI is the desk's read on what the franchise will pick based on the available information.
The last-5 form tracker is weighted 50/30/20 across last-5, last-10 and season-long samples. Players in form carry a structural ceiling advantage; players out of form carry a structural floor risk. The desk's read: a player who has performed in the last 5 matches is more likely to perform in the next match than a player who has performed only in the season-long sample.
The venue index is the most data-rich section. Each IPL ground has an average first-innings score (Chepauk 165, Wankhede 178, Eden Gardens 182, Mohali 175), pacer share (Wankhede 42%, Mohali 48%, Chepauk 32%), spinner share (Chepauk 38%, Wankhede 28%), and dew factor (Wankhede 62%, Chepauk 35%). The venue index is the structural read on how the surface will play.
The captain candidate is drawn from the captain-logic principles on the fantasy-tips desk. The desk picks from a small set: a top-order batter at a familiar venue, a seam-bowling allrounder on a green surface, or a wrist-spinner at Chepauk. Each captain candidate has a worked ceiling and floor; readers pick the variance that matches their contest ladder.
How to read a team preview: read the probable XI, read the last-5 form tracker, read the venue index, read the captain candidate. Combine the four with your own judgement. Lock in at least ten minutes before the toss. The desk surfaces the read; readers decide.
Across the desk's audit window, the probable XI matched the actual XI in roughly seventy-five percent of matches. The desk's confidence on the probable XI is medium-to-high; readers should re-verify against the actual XI at the toss. The captain candidate's worked ceiling was within ±10 fantasy points of the actual captain score in roughly fifty-five percent of matches.
On the desk — extended notes
Each team-preview on Sleeper follows a four-section structure: probable XI, last-5 form tracker, venue index, captain candidate. The probable XI is sourced from the squad announcement and the last-5 selection pattern; the last-5 form tracker is a small table with matches played, fantasy points, and role multiplier; the venue index covers average first-innings score, pacer share, spinner share, and dew factor.
The probable XI is filed within four hours of the squad announcement. It is a working draft, not the actual XI; the actual XI is confirmed at the toss and the desk updates the home ledger within fifteen minutes. The probable XI is the desk's read on what the franchise will pick based on the available information.
The last-5 form tracker is weighted 50/30/20 across last-5, last-10 and season-long samples. Players in form carry a structural ceiling advantage; players out of form carry a structural floor risk. The desk's read: a player who has performed in the last 5 matches is more likely to perform in the next match than a player who has performed only in the season-long sample.
The venue index is the most data-rich section. Each IPL ground has an average first-innings score (Chepauk 165, Wankhede 178, Eden Gardens 182, Mohali 175), pacer share (Wankhede 42%, Mohali 48%, Chepauk 32%), spinner share (Chepauk 38%, Wankhede 28%), and dew factor (Wankhede 62%, Chepauk 35%). The venue index is the structural read on how the surface will play.
The captain candidate is drawn from the captain-logic principles on the fantasy-tips desk. The desk picks from a small set: a top-order batter at a familiar venue, a seam-bowling allrounder on a green surface, or a wrist-spinner at Chepauk. Each captain candidate has a worked ceiling and floor; readers pick the variance that matches their contest ladder.
How to read a team preview: read the probable XI, read the last-5 form tracker, read the venue index, read the captain candidate. Combine the four with your own judgement. Lock in at least ten minutes before the toss. The desk surfaces the read; readers decide.
Frequently asked
When is the probable XI filed?
Within four hours of the squad announcement; updated within fifteen minutes of the toss.
How is the last-5 form weighted?
50% last-5, 30% last-10, 20% season-long. Players in form carry a structural ceiling advantage.
What is the venue index?
Average first-innings score, pacer share, spinner share, dew factor. Filed per ground.
Does the desk pick the captain?
The desk surfaces a captain candidate with a worked ceiling and floor. Readers pick.
How does the desk verify the probable XI?
Three sources: the squad announcement, the last-5 selection pattern, and the surface read. The desk's confidence is medium-to-high on the probable XI.
What if the franchise changes the XI at the toss?
The desk updates the home ledger within fifteen minutes of the toss confirmation. Readers should re-verify their XI against the actual XI at the toss.
Does the desk cover associate nations?
No. The desk covers full-member nations in bilateral series and ICC events. Associate coverage is sparse.
How do I read the last-5 form tracker?
Players in form carry a structural ceiling advantage. The desk weights last-5 at 50%, last-10 at 30%, season-long at 20%.