Romario Shepherd, the West Indies all-rounder, recently shared insights into his upbringing in Baracara, Guyana, ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The 29-year-old was picked up by five-time champions Mumbai Indians in a successful trade with Lucknow Super Giants.
Romario Shepherd spoke about his humble beginnings, highlighting the challenges he faced growing up. He emphasized how he stays grounded, recalling the struggles he and many others in his community experienced. In Baracara, where he grew up, roads were not paved, and most children, including himself, went to school barefoot, often traveling by boat due to the lack of concrete roads.
“I try to stay humble because I remember where I come from and how tough it was. In 2021, I shared my life story. We didn’t have shoes to wear to school – almost none of the kids did. Transportation mostly involved boats since there were no concrete roads. It was all mud,” Shepherd shared with ESPNcricinfo.
When asked about his ability to hit big sixes, Romario Shepherd attributed it to his strength and having a good bat. He acknowledged the expectation for finishers like him to hit sixes right from the start but admitted it’s not always easy. Despite the pressure, he embraces his role as a finisher and backs himself against any bowler.
“It’s often about strength and using a good bat. It’s tough because everyone expects finishers to hit sixes from the first ball. But some days it doesn’t happen. You have to go out there and try, though. I trust my process and my strength against any bowler. It’s a battle of strengths when I’m at the crease,” he explained.
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I’m going to make sure that Shamar Joseph doesn’t get me out: Romario Shepherd
Romario Shepherd also talked about his compatriot Shamar Joseph, who is gearing up to play for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024. He praised the 24-year-old’s bowling skills, mentioning that Joseph can bowl at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour. Shepherd humorously remarked that he would do his best not to get dismissed by Joseph during their IPL matches.
“We’ve played practice games together in Guyana, and he’s bowled to me in the nets and managed to get me out a few times. But this will be the first time facing him in an official game. Shamar’s bowling has become even faster, reaching speeds of 150 kph. I need to be extra careful against him. If he gets me out in the IPL, he’s definitely going to remind me about it all day long (laughs). So, I’ll make sure to avoid getting out to him,” Shepherd jokingly concluded.