IPL 2024: Romario Shepherd reveals his mindset after fiery show against Delhi Capitals

The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians managed to register their first victory in the ongoing IPL (Indian Premier League). Taking on Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the 20th game of the tournament on April 7, MI put in an excellent performance with the bat in the first innings. 

After the top-order’s onslaught, it was the knock of 29-year-old Romario Shepherd that stood out for the five-time champions. Coming out to bat in the middle order, Shepherd scored 39* runs in 10 deliveries, hitting Anrich Nortje for a whopping 32 runs in the 20th over of the first innings. 

Talking about his knock, Shepherd came forward to reflect on the mindset he had when batting against Delhi Capitals; he opined that his role in the team helped him play freely. 

“Everyone wants to bat a bit, and before they start hitting, get used to the condition a bit. But whenever you're in the 17th over, you just go with a clear mind because there is no holding back," Shepherd was quoted as saying by IndiaToday.

"Whenever you're in that kind of role you're even more dangerous, having to just hit the ball because when you 'see-ball hit-ball', it's a more clear mindset than having to be tentative and looking for ones and twos," he added.

You have to maximise and hit it as well as you can: Shepherd

Furthermore, the star batter opined that when a batter comes in at the lower end of the batting order, there is more freedom to play shots and reflected on how it is about maximising the balls that one faces. 

“You play a bit tentative there and maybe mis-capitalize on some delivery that you would normally hit. "But when you're in the back end and there's only 18 balls, you will only face about seven, eight or nine out of those balls. You have to maximise and hit it as well as you can," Shepherd said.