Which format should you choose?
| Format | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| League (round robin) | Everyone plays everyone once (or twice). | Fairest; best when you have enough days. |
| Groups + knockout | Teams split into groups; the top teams go to semi-finals and a final. | Many teams, limited days. |
| Straight knockout | Lose once and you are out. Byes fill an uneven bracket. | One-day tournaments with many teams. |
| League + IPL playoffs | A league, then Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Final. | Gives the top two teams a second chance. |
How many matches will you need?
A league where everyone plays once needs teams × (teams − 1) ÷ 2 matches. A straight knockout needs teams − 1. Use the calculator to see the total and how many match days your ground needs.
How many matches will my tournament need?
Total matches
32
Match days needed
8
at 4 matches a day
Points table rules
- Win: 2 points. Tie or no result: 1 point each. Loss: 0.
- Teams level on points are separated by number of wins, then by net run rate.
- Announce these rules before the tournament, especially what happens if a match is washed out.
Net run rate (NRR), explained
NRR = (runs scored ÷ overs faced) − (runs conceded ÷ overs bowled), added up across all league matches. A positive NRR means a team scores faster than its opponents.
Example: a team scores 150 in 20 overs and then bowls the opponent out for 120 in 18 overs. Because the opponent was all out, it counts as 20 overs. NRR = 150 ÷ 20 − 120 ÷ 20 = 7.50 − 6.00 = +1.50.
Overs are counted ball by ball: 18.3 overs means 18 overs and 3 balls, which is 18.5 overs in the calculation. This is where most hand-made points tables go wrong.
Scheduling tips
- Give every team a break between matches on the same day.
- Spread the strongest teams' matches across the days so the last day still matters.
- Keep the knockout matches for the last day, with the final under lights or on the big screen if you can.
Let the app do the maths
On CricMitra you pick the format and the start date, and the fixtures, match times, points table and NRR are worked out for you. Winners move into the next round automatically. Live scores come straight from the scorer's phone; see the live scoring guide.