How This Electrical Engineer Turned ₹7,449 into ₹1 Crore on Dream11

Winning ₹1 Crore on Dream11 is not just a fantasy—it's a reality for Deep Mandal, an electrical engineer from West Bengal. Deep shares his journey, strategies, and invaluable lessons for aspiring fantasy players.

The Beginning of a Dream Journey

Deep Mandal, a proud Bengali from Bardhaman District, started playing fantasy sports during the 2019 IPL season. Initially introduced to Dream11 by a colleague, Deep’s journey began with small investments and mixed results. But his persistence and passion led him to achieve what many only dream of—a ₹1 crore win.

In his words:
"When I started, I had no idea about player lineups or team combinations. I often lost because I didn’t have enough knowledge. But over time, I learned to focus on less popular players and niche matches."

The Big Win: Strategy Behind ₹1 Crore

Deep’s life-changing win came during a T20 match between India and Bangladesh. He joined two contests—a ₹29 contest with ₹1 lakh as the first prize and a ₹39 contest with ₹1 crore as the first prize. To everyone’s surprise, Deep bagged both!

Key Takeaways from His Strategy:

1. Focus on Niche Matches:
   Deep prefers under-the-radar matches like domestic leagues (BBL, PSL, etc.) or low-profile international games, where competition is less fierce.
   "Everyone knows IPL stars, but lesser-known matches have hidden gems."

2. Player Selection:
   He emphasizes picking low-selection players, especially bowlers.
   "A less-selected player taking 3-4 wickets can make all the difference."

3. Captain and Vice-Captain Choices:
   Deep experiments with risky captain-vice-captain combinations in Grand Leagues to maximize points.

Overcoming Challenges

Deep candidly shared his struggles, including losing his entire month’s salary in one night while playing in the Bangladesh Premier League.
"I once invested ₹7,449—the entire salary I earned—and lost everything. It taught me the importance of managing my finances and limiting investments to 30% of my wallet."

Despite setbacks, Deep never gave up. He recovered losses through disciplined play and smart investments.
"The key is patience. You can’t win every day, but consistency and learning from mistakes will eventually pay off."

Debunking Myths About Dream11

Deep addressed common misconceptions about fantasy sports:

• "Is it all luck?"
  "No. Fantasy sports is 100% skill-based. Knowing player stats, pitch behavior, and weather conditions is crucial."

• "Do Dream11 employees win these contests?"
  "That’s a baseless rumor. As far as I know, Dream11 employees cannot play on their platform."

Financial Lessons from a Winner

Winning ₹1 crore brought new challenges for Deep, especially managing his winnings. Instead of splurging, he focused on building assets.
"I didn’t buy a car or any liabilities. I invested in land because it offers better long-term returns than flats."

Deep also emphasized the importance of financial literacy:
"Earning money is easy; managing and growing it is the real challenge. I aim to teach my future children financial management from an early age."

Advice for Aspiring Fantasy Players

1. Start Small:
   Invest a small amount and build experience gradually.

2. Focus on Skill:
   Understand player stats, match conditions, and team combinations.

3. Avoid Over-Investing:
   Limit your investments to what you can afford to lose.

4. Be Patient:
   "Patience is the key to success in fantasy sports. Stay consistent, and one day, you'll win big."

Looking Ahead

Despite his success, Deep has no plans to quit his job just yet. Instead, he dreams of starting a business and becoming his own boss.
"Job life doesn’t satisfy me anymore. It’s time to explore something bigger and better."

Conclusion: Is Fantasy Sports Worth It?

Deep’s journey is a testament to the fact that fantasy sports, when approached with skill, discipline, and patience, can change lives. However, it’s not without risks.
"Don’t treat fantasy sports as your primary income source. Play responsibly, and let it be a side hustle."

Deep Mandal’s story inspires millions of fantasy players to believe in their dreams, stay persistent, and focus on skill over luck. As Deep says,
"If I can win ₹1 crore, so can you. Just trust the process and never give up."