Power‑play vs Death Overs: Selecting Bowlers Based on Game Phases

In fantasy cricket, most people focus on batters—who’s in form, who opens, who plays the big shots. But smart fantasy players know that bowlers can make or break your team—especially if you pick them based on when they bowl in a match.

Yes, game phase matters a lot, especially in T20s and ODIs. A bowler delivering in the first six overs (power-play) or the last few overs (death overs) has different challenges—and different point-scoring chances.

In this blog, we’ll break down the difference between power-play and death overs, which type of bowlers to pick for each, and how to use this strategy to maximize your winnings on Vision11, one of the most user-friendly fantasy apps in India.

Why Bowlers Are Fantasy Gold (If Picked Right)

While batters can give you 30–50 points when they score well, bowlers have more consistent point opportunities:

Wickets (25 points each)
Maiden overs
Economy rate bonuses
Catches, run-outs

But to truly unlock a bowler’s value, you need to understand when they bowl.

Let’s break it down.

Phase 1: Power-play Overs (1–6)

What Happens in This Phase?

Only 2 fielders allowed outside the circle
Batters usually take risks to score fast
More chances for edges, LBWs, or clean bowled

Ideal Bowlers to Pick:

✅ Swing Bowlers – They move the ball early and trouble openers
✅ Left-arm seamers – Offer a different angle, especially against right-handers
✅ Fast-medium bowlers with control

What to Look For:

Bowlers with high power-play wicket stats
Bowlers with low economy in early overs
Someone who consistently bowls in the first 6

Example Players (for reference):

Deepak Chahar (great swing in power-play)
Mohammad Shami (early breakthroughs)
Trent Boult (dangerous with the new ball)

These bowlers may not take many wickets in the middle or death overs, but they can get early breakthroughs and earn solid points early in the match.

Phase 2: Death Overs (16–20 in T20s)

What Happens Here?

Batters go all-out to score
High-risk shots = more wicket chances
Bowlers can either be heroes or leak runs

Ideal Bowlers to Pick:

✅ Yorker specialists – Difficult to hit in the final overs
✅ Pace bowlers with variations – Slower balls, cutters, bouncers
✅ Experienced death-over bowlers

What to Look For:

Bowlers who bowl 2+ overs at the end
High strike rate in death overs
Good at controlling runs despite pressure

Example Players (for reference):

Jasprit Bumrah (death-over master)
Harshal Patel (wicket-taker in the 18th/19th)
Dwayne Bravo (old but gold in crunch overs)

Death overs are chaotic, but also bring the most wickets. A bowler who bowls 17th and 19th overs has a strong chance of picking 2–3 wickets—huge in fantasy points!

Smart Strategy: Mix Power-play and Death Bowlers in Your XI

Now comes the key point. On Vision11, you’re not restricted to just picking any bowler—you need to pick bowlers based on the match phase strategy.

Here’s a simple mix you can use:

1 or 2 bowlers who open the attack (power-play)
1 or 2 bowlers who close the innings (death overs)
Optionally, 1 spinner who bowls in the middle overs (if the pitch helps spin)

This gives your team balance and point-scoring chances across the whole innings.

Bonus Tip: Captain & Vice-Captain Choices

On Vision11, your Captain gets 2x points, and the Vice-Captain gets 1.5x.

So, how does this phase strategy help here?

Choose your Captain or VC based on:

A bowler who bowls both power-play and death overs = double opportunity
A consistent death-over specialist in high-scoring venues = high wicket potential

This role-based logic will always give you an edge over casual fantasy players.

Use Vision11 Features to Your Advantage

Vision11 is not just a fantasy app—it’s a smart platform that rewards skill and analysis.

Here’s how Vision11 makes phase-based bowling picks more rewarding:

✅ Detailed Player Stats
You can easily see how bowlers have performed recently, including wickets and economy.

✅ Less Crowd = More Winning Odds
Because contests are less crowded than other fantasy apps, your smart picks give a bigger edge.

✅ Second Innings Fantasy
If a bowler didn't perform in the first half, you can still make changes for second innings contests.

???? Start playing smart here: https://www.vision11.in/

Final Thoughts: Bowlers Win Fantasy Matches Too

It’s easy to get excited about big sixes and star batters, but if you’re serious about winning in fantasy cricket, you need to understand match phases and pick bowlers accordingly.

Power-play bowlers can break open the game early
Death-over bowlers can finish it off with a bang
On Vision11, the right bowler at the right time = big-time winnings

So the next time you build your team, don’t just go with famous names. Look at roles. Look at overs. Think like a cricket analyst.

Because when others are chasing runs, you’ll be chasing wickets—and cashing in!

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