Bruce Dias 
India, like other nations, has witnessed an explosion in fantasy sports across the country. Thanks to the technology, this is not a whim – it is a widespread phenomenon with an enormous user base of over 180 million as reported in the industry. The frequency with which fantasy sports companies move from an idea to a profitable business is amazing. The number has been increasing 7 times in only 5 years! The country has immense exposure to the internet and smartphones and as a result, this phenomenon has a big hand in the ongoing explosive growth. Without fantasy sports, people’s lives are no longer the same in India, and it’s among the most exciting games which are for those who want to be connected all the time.
From Passive Viewer to Active Participant
The participatory level that fans are given in fantasy sports is not to the same extent as in traditional sports entertainment. Fantasy sports are emerging, and along with them, the fans who used to sit and watch become the ones taking part in various activities. Fantasy sports erase the division between mere surfers and actual fans, as they can become spectators and virtual team managers. They can make their teams, select players from virtual cricket betting sites, and compete with their friends or other people who do not know each other.
This change in perception gives them a sense of belonging to the sport. With a stronger connection, fans are more likely to follow individual teams, and they are not just cheering on. Instead, they are studying the data to find more victories for their virtual sports team, which usually includes some of the top players, thus finding better players with better stats. This increased participation heightens the level of expertise and fans, making eSports more attractive to them. It is a win-win situation for both fans and the sports they like.
How Fantasy Sports are Boosting Sports Literacy
Technically fantasy is not only about cricket. Fantasy is not just a one-sport game; these are also run games for Kabaddi and football. Moreover, when fans interact, they share the appreciation of sport and recreation. Fans get to discover so many new events which they otherwise would have never known about orange and green. This might lead to lesser known sports becoming popular as more people follow them, or even the sport getting more support for growth and development.
Nonetheless, the ultimate win of creating these sports fantasy fans that are the statisticians is in the core of them loving numbers. You have to smash through the glass ceiling of knowledge in player performance, their strengths, and weaknesses, and game strategies to make a winning team. This allows fans to get into the depth of the game they enjoy and aim to master the sport they are passionate about. They are no longer the ones who only support their favorite teams.
They participate in the game by looking at the teams’ methods of play, stars’ skills, and stats, which is an active learning process. This improved understanding is responsible for creating a more knowledgeable and analytical fan base, thus leading to the enhancement of spectators’ experience and more significant discussions about their favorite sport.
The Positive Impact on the Sports Industry
Increased Viewership and Revenue
Fantasy sports are not only good for the fans who play them since they also have the potential of bringing in some pretty cool profits for the sports industry. Here’s why: The Fans of fantasy platforms stay at live events. Due to their virtual team’s fate, which is determined by the real-life player’s performance and the consequent increase in their interest in sports, fantasy participants are given the incentive to watch the entire game and not just the highlights. This shift in attention might lead to a potential increase in the number of sports leagues and broadcasters’ viewership in the future.
Think about the outburst of fantasy numbers when millions of players join the fantasy game and the ratings will continue to increase! Even though the cause and effect relationship is not yet confirmed, the introduction of fantasy sports is in line with the increase in viewership of certain leagues, which indicates a slight positive correlation. These attracting spectators will also enable the promotion of more products as a result of the invested money and sports becoming more popular, which is a situation benefiting all sides, sportsmen, fans, and broadcasters the most.
A Boost for Grassroots Development
Ideally, the fantasy sports bus is not only about the current situation but it can also be a great way to further develop the sports industry of India in the future. Fantasy games could possibly be the money magnet and the most engaging game on-line in India, thus they appear in the arena as new and rather significant players trying to endorse young athletes’ development.
Just picture it, the platforms using their profit to sponsor the up and coming athletes and develop new facilities such as training facilities separately, funding local tournaments, and actually partnering with academy programs. This kind of financial support might change the entire face of grassroots sports as it will be the main source of the top talent and perhaps the next star sport. The money that fantasy sports do will boost the sports of the following generation in India will definitely bring about a vibrant and exciting sports culture.
Conclusion
Fantasy sports have newly reformed the Indian sports. Apart from turning fans into active participants, it also allows a deeper connection with the sports and, therefore, increases viewership. It possibly can foster the development of talent through financial investment. This pioneering arena is a win-win opportunity for both the fans, the athletes, and the sports industry.
