How well do you know the story of Adam and Eve? It might be a fable. It might be real. Adam is a strong, intelligent, and rational character possessed of a remarkable capacity to reason. Eve’s strengths are her capacity for love, emotion, and forebearance. Adam and Eve do exist in every one of us and manifests in different ways.
Wait, what am I talking about? I am talking about the two wonderful gifts to mankind, reason and emotion.The combination of two makes the world of fantasy sport ever so fascinating, while a sport is largely driven by one’s emotion, fantasy cricket brings some sanity into it. A great sportsman does not necessarily have to be a great strategist.
Argh! Now what’s this new devil called fantasy sport?
A game within a game, fantasy sports brings forth the strategist in everyone. A team selection could be an arduous task even for the coaches, captains and selection committee in the real world. With fantasy sport, the onus is on us. The fantasy enthusiasts usually go wrong by forming a team comprising their favourite players. No, fantasy sport is not about picking your favourite players or the most stylish players. On the contrary, it’s about making sensible choices that balances economics with value proposition. Economics – as you have limited funds in your kitty to buy the players. Value – you want our players to be multi-faceted. There are various other factors like the playing conditions, the current form of the player so on and so forth. The challenge is to make the best of the internal and external factors. And it’s not over once you have sown the seed. It’s only the beginning. It needs to be nurtured and nourished from time to time.
Why do people play fantasy sport?
1. I am the Big Boss.
Have you ever been miffed by your school/college captain over the bad choices made by him/her that cost the team badly? Have there been occasions where you felt I could have done better than my team captain? This platform let’s you be yourself. Fantasy sport empowers us. It gives us a sense of ownership.
2. If you thought sex was addictive try this….
Is sex addictive? Just count the number of times you think about sex in a day. And you will find the answer.Is fantasy sport addictive? Yes, it is. We humans are strange creatures, often driven by our own obsessions. It is the obsessive nature within us that wants to get it right always. Winning and one-upmanship can be addictive.We are constantly seeking recognition and appreciation from the world around us. There is nothing wrong in it.
After all that’s what keep us going. Such is the pleasure of indulging in fantasy sport. It’s the thrill of making the right choices – sometimes well thought through and at times it’s spontaneous. Haven’t come across anyone who is obsessed with getting it right always? Just look around.
3. Your good old friend turns foe. 
Yes, playing fantasy sport with your friends could be a test of your friendship. It can get nasty at times, but all in good spirit. Who wants to miss an opportunity to take pot shot at your own friends? Dissing is a favorite past time among the boys at least. We love to get under the skin of our buddies. It is precisely because of that reason, Switch-Hit (a social fantasy cricket portal) has a feature called the ‘Dug-Out’ which lets you have a go at each other. It’s an in-built whatsapp feature. You can express yourself as sledging is encouraged here.
4. You’re a gambler, confess it.
You’re an adventurer, explorer and rely heavily on experience. You love taking risks. You swim against the tide and relish the moment of spontaneity at times. Fantasy sport let’s you be yourself. It lets you express yourself the best you know. In short, you like making the big moves at the most crucial stages. In fantasy sport, you will be presented in many occasions to back your intuition and gut feeling. And the joy, when you get it right, is unparalleled.
Not just a hobby
It’s estimated by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association that 32 million people age 12 and above in the U.S. and Canada played fantasy sports in 2010. Participation has grown over 60 percent the past four years with 19 percent of males in the U.S. playing fantasy sports. A prior study by the FSTA showed 19.4 million people age 12 and above in the U.S. and Canada played fantasy sports in 2006 and 34.5 million people had ever played fantasy sports.A 2006 study showed 22 percent of U.S. adult males 18 to 49 years old, with Internet access, play fantasy sports. Fantasy Sports is estimated to have a $3–$4 Billion annual economic impact across the sports industry.The hobby has also moved beyond the U.S. with fantasy leagues for soccer, cricket and other sports. For example, according to a 2008 study by Ipsos, the number of British fantasy sports players aged 16–64 is estimated to range between 5.5 and 7.5 million. Of those, 80 percent of these players participate in fantasy soccer.
It’s time to test your fantasy sport skills. If you are a cricket follower, you can try this exciting new fantasy cricket platform: www.switch-hit.com.
