If you searched "ind vs sa" hoping to actually play India vs South Africa rather than just watch it, this is for you. Two games dominate that request right now: Cricket 24, the full-fat PC and console sim, and Real Cricket 24, the free mobile heavyweight. This comparison is for anyone who wants the IND vs SA match-up in their own hands and is deciding where to spend (or not spend) their money.
Last updated: June 16, 2026. Prices checked: June 2026. Sources: Steam, Epic, publisher pages and partner stores. We refresh prices and sale notes regularly.
At a glance
| Criteria | Cricket 24 (PC/console) | Real Cricket 24 (mobile) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $49.99 full on Steam, keys from roughly $32 on partner stores | Free to download, optional in-app purchases |
| Library/content | Tests, ODIs, T20s, The Hundred, big licence list, deep career and competitions | Tests, ODIs, T20s, pink-ball, tournaments, lighter career |
| Key features | Realistic batting/bowling physics, broadcast presentation, community downloads | Fast matches, slick controls, lots of stadiums and teams |
| Players | 1-2 local, 1v1 online | 1-2 local pass-and-play, 1v1 online |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | Android, iOS |
| Value | High if you play a lot of cricket | High if you want casual cricket for nothing |
| Best for | Sim fans who want IND vs SA series and careers | Casual players who want IND vs SA on the go |
Want to see live numbers across stores before you commit either way? Our full price-comparison catalog tracks them, and the current deals page flags any active discounts.
Price
The gap here is the whole story. One game asks for a one-off purchase, the other asks for nothing up front.
Cricket 24, developed by Big Ant Studios and published by Nacon, sits around $49.99 at full price on Steam, with keys from partner stores often landing near $32. On a Steam sale it can drop well below that, so it is worth watching the next Steam sale tracker if you are patient. Real Cricket 24 is a free download with optional in-app purchases for cosmetics, tickets and premium tournaments.
- Cricket 24:* one payment, no ads, no paywalls behind matches. Frequent sales make it cheap if you wait.
- Cricket 24:* still a real outlay, and the Switch version runs at a lower fidelity than PC or current-gen consoles.
- Real Cricket 24:* free to start, zero risk, and you can play a full IND vs SA T20 without spending a cent.
- Real Cricket 24:* in-app purchases and ad prompts push at you, and unlocking some content faster costs real money.
Content and modes
This is where the premium price starts to justify itself.
Cricket 24 covers the formats properly: Tests, One Day Internationals, T20s and The Hundred, plus a deep career mode and a stack of licensed competitions. It carries a large official licence list, though some teams and player names rely on free community downloads through the in-game academy to look fully accurate. For an IND vs SA series across multiple Test matches with realistic wear on the pitch, it is the more complete package.
Real Cricket 24 is leaner but generous for a free app. You get Tests, ODIs, T20s, pink-ball matches and a long roster of stadiums (Cape Town and Dubai among them), with tournaments and a lighter career layer. It nails the quick fix: pick India, pick South Africa, play a tight chase, done.
- Cricket 24:* every format, deep career, online ranked, modding support for accurate squads.
- Cricket 24:* menus and setup feel heavy if you only want a five-minute game.
- Real Cricket 24:* instant matches, varied stadiums, surprisingly detailed for a phone game.
- Real Cricket 24:* career and licensing are shallower, and longer formats feel less satisfying than on a big screen.
Ease of use and accessibility
Real Cricket 24 is the easier on-ramp by a mile. It is on the device already in your pocket, the tutorials are quick, and the touch controls are forgiving. You can be playing IND vs SA inside two minutes.
Cricket 24 has a steeper learning curve. The batting and bowling systems reward timing and read, which is great long term but daunting on day one. If you play on PC, it is worth checking handheld options too; our Steam Deck compatible games hub is the place to confirm before you assume it runs well on the go.
Value
Value depends entirely on how much cricket you actually play.
If you want dozens of hours, full IND vs SA series, online matches and career saves you return to for months, Cricket 24 is excellent value, especially bought on sale near $32 or lower. If you want a casual game now and then, paying for a sim makes little sense when Real Cricket 24 hands you the core match-up for free.
- Cricket 24:* the cost-per-hour drops fast for committed players. No ongoing spend required.
- Cricket 24:* poor value if you only dip in occasionally.
- Real Cricket 24:* unbeatable value at zero entry cost for casual sessions.
- Real Cricket 24:* heavy spenders can sink real money into IAP over time and still not match a sim's depth.
Winner by use case
- Best for newcomers: Real Cricket 24. Free, fast and friendly, with a tiny learning curve.
- Best for value (casual): Real Cricket 24. Nothing to lose, instant IND vs SA games.
- Best for value (committed): Cricket 24 on sale. Buy near $32 and the hours add up cheaply.
- Best for realism and depth: Cricket 24. Proper physics, full formats and career.
- Best for power users: Cricket 24. Community downloads, modding and online ranked play.
- Best for playing anywhere: Real Cricket 24 on phone, or Cricket 24 on Switch if you want a sim handheld.
Honourable and adjacent picks
These do not quite go head-to-head with the two above, but they matter if your needs are slightly different.
- World Cricket Championship 3 (WCC3): another strong free mobile option; a good alternative if Real Cricket 24's style does not click for you.
- Cricket Captain 2024 (PC, around $24.99): a management sim, so you run the IND vs SA team rather than play the shots. Great for tacticians, not for arcade play.
- Ashes Cricket (2017): still sold cheaply and fine for casual sim matches, but it is older and less polished than Cricket 24.
- EA Sports Cricket 07: a nostalgic classic that the community keeps alive with patches. Charming, but very dated and not officially sold today.
If you would rather scratch a different itch entirely, our best indie games and best action games hubs are worth a browse, and the free game giveaways page sometimes drops sports titles too.
FAQ
Can I play India vs South Africa in Cricket 24? Yes. You can set up exhibition matches or full series in any format and pick both sides. Some squad names look more accurate after a free community download via the in-game academy.
Is Real Cricket 24 really free? Yes, it is free to download and play, with optional in-app purchases for cosmetics, tickets and premium tournaments. You can play a full IND vs SA match without paying.
Which is more realistic? Cricket 24, comfortably. Its batting and bowling physics, broadcast presentation and pitch behaviour are well beyond a mobile title.
What platforms is Cricket 24 on? PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch. The Switch version arrived later and runs at lower fidelity than PC or current-gen consoles.
Is Cricket 24 ever cheaper than full price? Often. Partner-store keys frequently sit near $32, and Steam sales can push it lower. Watch our deals page and the Steam sale tracker before paying full price.
Do I need online to play? No. Both games offer offline matches against the AI. Online 1v1 is a bonus, not a requirement, in either.
Which should a complete beginner buy first? Start with Real Cricket 24 because it is free. If you fall for cricket and want depth, graduate to Cricket 24 on a sale.
The bottom line
For IND vs SA done seriously, Cricket 24 is the better game and worth its price when you catch it on offer. For zero-cost, pick-up-and-play cricket, Real Cricket 24 is hard to beat. Most players will know which camp they are in after reading the verdict above.
Ready to buy smart? Compare live prices across Steam, Eneba, Kinguin, GOG and more in our full game catalog, and check today's current deals so you never pay more than you have to.
Alex, Scout Team
Alex
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