Flicx scales cricket in California – More Teams, More Players, and Big Hundreds!
The Riverside Premier Cricket League (RPCL) may still be in its infancy, but it has already become a thriving competition, attracting players from across California. Launched in early 2024, the league has grown at an astonishing pace, thanks in part to the innovative use of Flicx Pitches to transform one of Riverside’s parks into a true cricketing haven.
Back in May 2024, the league’s early challenges were chronicled in our first Flicx x RPCL blog post, but fast forward to March 2025, and the league is now thriving and has expanded at a phenomenal speed. One of the driving factors behind this success is the performance of the 2G Flicx Pitches which are rolled out to host the matches. Initially met with some hesitation, the portable pitches have quickly gained acceptance, and now, three Flicx mats are in use each weekend, delivering a high standard of play that has exceeded all expectations.
“Cricket Booming in a Beautiful Park“
Hosted in stunning Don Derr Park, the RPCL offers an easily accessible location for players across Southern California with over 600 players now regularly travelling from all corners of the state to take part. The appeal of the Flicx pitches has been undeniable, with demand soaring as the league’s reputation grows. “People are loving it,” says Akshay Chikkaveeraiah, the league’s coordinator.
“It’s quickly become the best cricket league around due to the great playing surface we have on offer. Demand is so high that we’re looking to add six more teams this summer, bringing the total to between 16 and 20 teams, and over 1000 players.”
One of the other key factors in the RPCL’s success has been the support it has received from the city’s park authorities. Initially, there was some reluctance from the park department to permit cricket, as they weren’t familiar with the sport. However, seeing the league’s rapid participation growth and popularity, they now provide significant backing, including mowing the grass short each Tuesday to maintain an optimal playing surface. This collaboration has been instrumental in making the RPCL a real fixture in the local sporting community.
“A Batters’ Paradise“
The 2G Flicx pitch has truly lived up to its reputation, and it has created a unique infrastructure that allows the league to grow and flourish. The Flicx Pitches are set up early each weekend by a small team of volunteers, with T20 games running from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the winter and from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer, with evening games held under floodlights. This extensive scheduling has allowed the league to offer more opportunities for more players to participate and enabled the huge demand to be scaled.
The league has attracted a diverse group of players, with a large concentration of participants from local Asian communities, including those with Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, and Afghan heritage. All players have embraced the 2G Flicx Pitches, with many travelling up to 2.5 hours to play in the RPCL. As Akshay Chikkaveeraiah describes, the Flicx pitch has now become a “batter’s paradise,” with the surface providing consistent bounce that makes for high-scoring games.
Players are all sold on the pitch “We love the Flicx – It really works”
Since the league’s inception, there have been three centuries and between 15 and 20 scores of 50+ — a testament to the high-quality playing conditions that Flicx has provided. The number of pitches owned by the RPCL has also grown to accommodate the increasing number of players and teams, with three Flicx Batting Ends now in use. Bowlers deliver the ball on the grass, so in effect games are hosted on ¾ batting ends and 3 games take place simultaneously, throughout the weekends.
Optimised Conditions for a Balanced Game
During the RPCL’s inaugural campaign, there was a little uneven bounce reported which posed challenges, making it harder for batters to score freely. After the inaugural league campaign, the organising team moved the Flicx Pitch locations slightly and found the most optimal undersurface areas on which to roll out. Now the pitches offer really consistent bounce, allowing for more runs, higher scoring games and providing a truly even contest between bat and ball. This shift has made the matches more exciting and competitive, with players enjoying the opportunity to score big runs while still facing the challenge of skilled bowlers.
As the league continues to evolve, Akshay Chikkaveeraiah has made it clear that Flicx Pitches will remain the cornerstone of the RPCL’s future. “We’re no longer considering turf wickets,” he says.
“Flicx has proven to be the perfect solution for our league. It allows us to play throughout the day all year round offering a great level of competition that players really enjoy. It would be impossible for us to grow the league in the way that we have without the cost effective, durable option that Flicx Pitches offer”
With the success of the Flicx pitches and the incredible growth of the league, it’s clear that the RPCL is here to stay. What began as a small idea is now the premier cricket league in California, offering exciting matches and growing participation with players all loving being part of such as fantastic set up.
Kate Costin, Marketing Manager at Flicx UK, praised the RPCL model, saying, “RPCL is an excellent blueprint for other cities and leagues, with no limits on player growth. We’re proud to partner with Akshay and his team, who deliver an outstanding player experience and provide hundreds of dedicated cricketers with access to high-level competition.” She added, “It’s exciting to see the league’s continued success, and we look forward to supporting its growth moving forward.”
Find out more about the RPCL on their Instagram, Facebook or You Tube accounts
https://www.youtube.com/@riversidepremierleague
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