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THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Where baseball and football fields have long ruled the local sporting landscape, a new sound echoes through the parks: the crack of willow on leather. That’s the sound of cricket, and it’s being popularized by a team known as the Texas Royals.
Formed in August 2022 by students at the Academy of Science and Technology, Siddharth Jain, Ashutosh Sahu, and Sanjan Sarang, the Royals began as a small idea: introduce cricket to a community that was not familiar with the sport. What began as informal weekend matches has grown into one of the largest and most competitive youth cricket programs in the Greater Houston area. The Royals currently have over 40 active players, ranging from middle schoolers all the way up to college students.
“We knew the interest was there,” says Jain. “We just needed to create something people could belong to.”
That “something” became more than just a team. The Texas Royals now practice year-round, with regular training sessions, weekend matches, and tournament play. They train and host games across multiple local venues including The Woodlands High School Ninth Grade Campus, Falconwing Park, and Matzke Park, bringing structured cricket to a region that previously had none.
In 2024, the founding trio took things a step further by creating the Youth Cricket Premier League (YCPL), a youth only competition designed to foster local talent which now has 15 teams and 175 members. Along with this, the Royals also compete in the Woodlands Premier League, a high-level adult league, facing teams composed of seasoned players.
Currently, the Texas Royals are sitting at the top of the YCPL standings, and holding their own in the adult league. “They’re not just kids playing a game,” says one WPL captain. “They’re serious and know what they want to achieve.”
The team emphasizes inclusion and responsibility in equal measure. All players are required to wear protective gear, much of which is shared across the squad to make participation accessible to all. “Equipment should never be a barrier, and we’ve made sure of that,” says Sarang.
For Krushal Panda, a 16 year old wicketkeeper-batsman, the team has been life changing. “I had never played cricket before but fell in love the first day,” he says. “Now I get to play and meet people who love the game just as much.”
Parents on the team see even more value: “They’re not just learning a sport and getting physical activity. They’re learning discipline, leadership, and how to build something from the ground up,” says one parent.
Cricket is one of the world’s most popular sports, with over 2.5 billion global fans, yet it is still uncommon in much of the US. That is starting to change with initiatives like Major League Cricket launching in 2023 and youth programs like the Royals driving interest at the grassroots level.
Looking ahead, the Royals are already planning introductory cricket camps for elementary students. “If we want cricket to grow, we have to start young,” says Sahu. “That’s the pipeline.”
They’re also exploring partnerships with local sponsors and applying for grants to purchase more equipment, something they believe will not only elevate their play, but provide a lasting resource for future members.
The Texas Royals are proving that a sport can be more than just competition, it can be a community. In a place where cricket was once virtually unknown, they have created not just a team, but a culture. And they’re not done yet.
As another parent put it: “These boys aren’t just playing a game. They’re building a legacy.”
Cricket may be new to The Woodlands. But thanks to the Texas Royals, it’s here to stay.
Formed in August 2022 by students at the Academy of Science and Technology, Siddharth Jain, Ashutosh Sahu, and Sanjan Sarang, the Royals began as a small idea: introduce cricket to a community that was not familiar with the sport. What began as informal weekend matches has grown into one of the largest and most competitive youth cricket programs in the Greater Houston area. The Royals currently have over 40 active players, ranging from middle schoolers all the way up to college students.
“We knew the interest was there,” says Jain. “We just needed to create something people could belong to.”
That “something” became more than just a team. The Texas Royals now practice year-round, with regular training sessions, weekend matches, and tournament play. They train and host games across multiple local venues including The Woodlands High School Ninth Grade Campus, Falconwing Park, and Matzke Park, bringing structured cricket to a region that previously had none.
In 2024, the founding trio took things a step further by creating the Youth Cricket Premier League (YCPL), a youth only competition designed to foster local talent which now has 15 teams and 175 members. Along with this, the Royals also compete in the Woodlands Premier League, a high-level adult league, facing teams composed of seasoned players.
Currently, the Texas Royals are sitting at the top of the YCPL standings, and holding their own in the adult league. “They’re not just kids playing a game,” says one WPL captain. “They’re serious and know what they want to achieve.”
The team emphasizes inclusion and responsibility in equal measure. All players are required to wear protective gear, much of which is shared across the squad to make participation accessible to all. “Equipment should never be a barrier, and we’ve made sure of that,” says Sarang.
For Krushal Panda, a 16 year old wicketkeeper-batsman, the team has been life changing. “I had never played cricket before but fell in love the first day,” he says. “Now I get to play and meet people who love the game just as much.”
Parents on the team see even more value: “They’re not just learning a sport and getting physical activity. They’re learning discipline, leadership, and how to build something from the ground up,” says one parent.
Cricket is one of the world’s most popular sports, with over 2.5 billion global fans, yet it is still uncommon in much of the US. That is starting to change with initiatives like Major League Cricket launching in 2023 and youth programs like the Royals driving interest at the grassroots level.
Looking ahead, the Royals are already planning introductory cricket camps for elementary students. “If we want cricket to grow, we have to start young,” says Sahu. “That’s the pipeline.”
They’re also exploring partnerships with local sponsors and applying for grants to purchase more equipment, something they believe will not only elevate their play, but provide a lasting resource for future members.
The Texas Royals are proving that a sport can be more than just competition, it can be a community. In a place where cricket was once virtually unknown, they have created not just a team, but a culture. And they’re not done yet.
As another parent put it: “These boys aren’t just playing a game. They’re building a legacy.”
Cricket may be new to The Woodlands. But thanks to the Texas Royals, it’s here to stay.
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