West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd has shared insights into his modest upbringing in Guyana as he prepares to join the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the IPL 2024 season. Despite his success, the 29-year-old Romario Shepherd emphasized the importance of staying humble, a trait he attributes to the challenges he has faced in life.
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Romario Shepherd disclosed that Baracara, his hometown, has mud roads, making river travel the primary mode of transportation. The seam-bowling all-rounder also mentioned that only a few children attended school, and those who did typically went barefoot due to the village’s conditions.
“I try to remain humble because I know where I come from. I know how hard it was to come up. In 2021, I talked about my life story [on video]. We never went to school with shoes on our feet – 99% of the kids never went to school with shoes on their feet. In Baracara, you never go to school with shoes on the feet because most times you get a boat to school. Most of the transportation there is by river. There’s no concrete road as such, just mud roads,” he said.
I embrace that role and I trust my process- Romario Shepherd
Romario Shepherd attributed his ability to hit big sixes to his strength, emphasizing his self-belief regardless of the bowler he faces.
“Sometimes it’s just strength (laughs) and having a good bat. It’s tough – everyone expects us [finishers] to go and hit a six from ball one. Some days it just doesn’t happen. You need to go out there and try to hit sixes from ball one. But once you get it right, you can get your name up there fast,” he stated.
“I embrace that role and I trust my process. It doesn’t matter who is bowling, I back myself to clear the rope against them because I know my strength. So it’s my strength vs your strength when I’m at the crease,” Shepherd added.
So far in his T20 international career, the 29-year-old has shown promise, playing 35 matches and scoring 317 runs at a strike rate of 148.13. Additionally, he has taken 37 wickets as well. He could be a vital cog for West Indies in the upcoming T20 WC 2024 as the Men in Maroon would be aiming for a better performance after a forgettable T20 WC 2022.
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