West Indies allrounder Romario Shepherd has established himself as a regular in T20I cricket and franchise T20 leagues around the world. In the run-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, coach Daren Sammy name-checked Shepherd as one of the players who can dominate the tournament. But before that, he will be in action for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Shepherd talks about his power-hitting, slower balls, growing up with Shamar Joseph in Baracara, and reuniting with Kieron Pollard at Mumbai.
Your next assignment is with Mumbai Indians – one of the best franchises in T20 cricket – where you will reunite with your first West Indies captain, Kieron Pollard. How excited are you?
Yes, Kieron was the one who gave me the opportunity [to play for West Indies] in Lucknow [in 2019]. I’m thankful for that. To go back and play under him at MI once again is a joy. He has also been someone who has shared a lot of information with me, both batting- and bowling-wise. He has played so many T20 games and the experience is always there. He always has some challenge for you to work on.
Yes, Kieron was the one who gave me the opportunity [to play for West Indies] in Lucknow [in 2019]. I’m thankful for that. To go back and play under him at MI once again is a joy. He has also been someone who has shared a lot of information with me, both batting- and bowling-wise. He has played so many T20 games and the experience is always there. He always has some challenge for you to work on.
When I got the call that I will be with MI this IPL, I was very happy to play for one of the best franchises in the league and one of the well-known franchises in the world. That’s something that comes with some added pressure because you’re in the spotlight playing for a champion team. But I don’t want to pressure myself too much. I just want to relax and work my way into the team. If given an opportunity in the XI, I must be ready for any challenge thrown at me.
Being a middle-order power-hitter or finisher is one of the toughest roles in T20 cricket. How do you prepare for the role?
Yes, it’s very tough and it’s something I’ve been working on. Before the CPL started, [the Guyana Amazon Warriors team management] told me that [lower down the order] is where I’m going to bat and that I will not get a lot of deliveries to face. So if I get just five balls, I have to make use of it. Obviously, the role might change if there are a lot of overs remaining.
Yes, it’s very tough and it’s something I’ve been working on. Before the CPL started, [the Guyana Amazon Warriors team management] told me that [lower down the order] is where I’m going to bat and that I will not get a lot of deliveries to face. So if I get just five balls, I have to make use of it. Obviously, the role might change if there are a lot of overs remaining.
The way I train and prepare myself before the game is just to face ten to 12 balls, because I was only facing that many in the match down the order. Most times I was ready mentally because I was training for that. In those games where I get those ten or 12 balls, I try to get 20-something. That’s the way I prepare before a game. I have to capitalise on any loose ball that comes my way. That was a conversation with the coach [Lance Klusener] and captain [Imran Tahir] at the CPL.
“I’ve always been someone who you can give different roles to because I understand the game a bit more now”
In my role – both batting and bowling – I think the game situation dictates how I play. If I go out to bat and I know it’s boundary time, I would have had a look at the game and I would have a fair idea of what each bowler is trying to do in those conditions. When I get out there, it’s about me pushing on. I know how captains try to bowl at me and how bowlers bowl at me. These days, most bowlers go wide or bowl into the wicket, according to the boundary size, so that’s something I prepare for. When I reach the crease, I know how I want to go.
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