The KYC (Know Your Customer) walkthrough is the regulatory gate that every fantasy cricket player in India must pass before the first withdrawal. The IFI editorial desk treats the KYC as the floor of the season's operations — get it done on day 1, get it done correctly, and never think about it again. This page is the consolidated KYC reference for the pan-India fantasy community: the three KYC steps, the documents required, the verification timelines, the common failure modes, and the recovery paths when a KYC check fails.
Step 1: PAN verification
The PAN (Permanent Account Number) is the 10-digit alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department. The PAN verification step consists of entering the 10-digit PAN into the operator's KYC form, the operator pulling the name and date of birth from the Income Tax Department database, and the operator confirming the match. The verification is instant; the result is displayed on the KYC page within 30 seconds.
The PAN must be in the player's name, not in a family member's name. The PAN must be active (not cancelled or deactivated). The PAN must match the Aadhaar (the name on the PAN must match the name on the Aadhaar). The PAN is the primary tax identifier; the operator files the TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) on the fantasy winnings under the PAN, and the Income Tax Department cross-references the operator's TDS filing against the player's ITR (Income Tax Return) using the PAN.
Step 2: Aadhaar verification
The Aadhaar is the 12-digit biometric identifier issued by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). The Aadhaar verification step consists of entering the 12-digit Aadhaar into the operator's KYC form, the operator pulling the address and photo from the UIDAI database, and the operator confirming the match. The verification is instant; the result is displayed on the KYC page within 60 seconds.
The Aadhaar can be verified via two methods: the OTP method (the operator sends an OTP to the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar, the player enters the OTP, the verification is complete) or the biometric method (the player scans their fingerprint or iris at a partner kiosk, the verification is complete). The OTP method is the standard; the biometric method is the fallback when the mobile number is no longer linked to the Aadhaar.
The Aadhaar must be in the player's name (or the player's name must be one of the names on the Aadhaar — Aadhaar allows multiple name formats, including initials, full name, and name with father/husband's name). The Aadhaar must be active. The address on the Aadhaar is used for the state-eligibility check.
Step 3: bank account verification
The bank account verification step consists of entering the bank account number and IFSC code into the operator's KYC form, the operator crediting and debiting a ₹1 test amount, the player confirming the test amount on the KYC page, and the bank account being marked as verified. The verification takes 1-2 business days; the result is displayed on the KYC page within 48 hours.
The bank account must be in the player's name (or the player's name must be a joint account holder with the primary account holder being a family member — the operator allows joint accounts with the player's PAN linked to the joint account). The bank account must be a savings or current account in an Indian bank. The bank account must support UPI for the fastest withdrawals.
Common KYC failure modes and recovery paths
The most common KYC failure mode is the PAN-Aadhaar name mismatch. The name on the PAN is the name as registered with the Income Tax Department; the name on the Aadhaar is the name as registered with the UIDAI. The two names must match within the UIDAI's name-matching algorithm (which allows minor variations like middle name order, initials vs full name, and spelling variations). When the names do not match, the operator's KYC check fails and the player is asked to update either the PAN or the Aadhaar to bring the names into alignment.
The IFI desk's recovery path for the PAN-Aadhaar name mismatch: update the Aadhaar (the UIDAI allows online Aadhaar updates via the myAadhaar portal, the update takes 5-7 business days). The PAN is harder to update; the Income Tax Department's PAN update process takes 15-30 days. The faster recovery is the Aadhaar update.
The second most common KYC failure mode is the bank account verification timeout. The operator credits the ₹1 test amount within 1 hour, but the debit (the recovery of the test amount) can take 1-2 business days. If the player does not see both the credit and the debit on the bank statement, the verification is not complete. The recovery path: contact the operator's customer support, share the bank statement, and ask the operator to manually confirm the verification.
The KYC and the state eligibility check
The KYC walkthrough is also the state eligibility check. The operator pulls the state from the Aadhaar address (the address registered with the UIDAI) and compares it to the operator's list of open and restricted states. If the player is in an open state, the KYC is complete and the player can deposit and withdraw. If the player is in a restricted state, the KYC is blocked and the player is informed that real-money play is not available in their state.
The state eligibility check is the same across the four major apps. The list of open and restricted states is the same. The IFI desk's recommendation: confirm the state eligibility before the first deposit, not after. The state eligibility is visible on the operator's terms of service and on the operator's KYC page. If the player is in a restricted state, the deposit is blocked and the deposit attempt is recorded by the operator as a violation of the terms of service.
The KYC for players in the restricted states
The KYC for players in the restricted states is partial — the PAN and Aadhaar steps are completed, but the bank account verification is blocked. The player can use the free practice contests, but the real-money contests are not available. The KYC data is stored on the operator's servers, and if the player moves to an open state, the KYC can be reactivated by updating the Aadhaar address and re-initiating the bank account verification.
The IFI desk's recommendation for restricted-state players: do not attempt to circumvent the state eligibility check via VPN or a friend's bank account. The operator's terms of service prohibit this, and the consequences include permanent account closure, forfeiture of any balance, and inclusion on the operator's internal blacklist. The free practice contests are a legitimate alternative; the circumvention is not.
The KYC and the TDS filing
The KYC data is used for the TDS filing. The PAN is the primary identifier for the TDS; the operator files the TDS with the Income Tax Department under the PAN. The Aadhaar is the secondary identifier; the operator uses the Aadhaar to confirm the player's identity in the case of a PAN-related dispute. The bank account is the destination for the winnings; the operator credits the net winnings (after TDS) to the bank account.
The IFI desk's recommendation: maintain the KYC data up to date. If the player changes their bank account, update the KYC. If the player changes their mobile number, update the KYC (the OTP is sent to the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar). The KYC is a living document, not a one-time registration.
Final word: the KYC is the floor of the season
The KYC is the floor of the fantasy season. Get it done on day 1, get it done correctly, and never think about it again. The IFI desk's editor in chief has completed the KYC on day 1 of every season for 6 years. The KYC walkthrough is a 30-minute investment that unlocks 70 matches of contest entries. Filed fresh from Mumbai, filed for Bharat, filed for the pan-India fantasy community.