Million-dollar-man Shepherd working to become world-class all-rounder

By Brandon Corlette

Dreams don’t come true, unless you put in the hard work to make that happen. Romario Shepherd has always dreamt of playing cricket at the highest possible levels, and playing in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) next month is a testimony of the action or hard work he has had to put in over the years in order to make his dream a reality.
During an exclusive interview with this publication, Shepherd relived the IPL auction, wherein he was picked up by SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for US$1,030,750, and spoke about what he is looking forward to at the IPL.
The 27-year-old also said that he is working on becoming a world-class all-rounder, and playing Test cricket is still on his agenda.
“It was a great feeling! Just being in the league and being in a great franchise like SunRisers Hyderabad is a great feeling! Being among lads like Brian Lara is a great feeling. I was watching the draft, and I knew I was coming out on the second day, because of the number I was at. I was not keen on the first day, (but) I was paying attention on the second day,” he said.
“I was going to training when my name came up, so I just came out the shower, ten minutes to go, and I spent five minutes watching everyone bid for me, and then I had five minutes to run out the room. It was a great feeling while heading to practice and everyone telling me about it,” Shepherd said.
The SRH coaching staff includes two legends of the game in Lara and Muttiah Muralitharan; Shepherd will certainly learn a lot. The all-rounder has said he is eager to go out there and do his best on the big franchise stage.
“My first tournament, so I have to go out there and show. That is my first objective, to go out there and announce myself. With that being said, I am looking forward for my first game, and giving it my best shot and, hopefully, get a great start and build on a start,” Shepherd said.
Reflecting on the CPL and the start to international cricket, Shepherd has said that having played in 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 17 T20 Internationals for the West Indies, he considers his start in the maroon colours as not great, but decent.
“In ODIs, it has been good for me; not great, but decent. Also, in T20s, I am a bit up and down, and it is just for me to find a balance. The more games you play, you learn more stuff, so every game is a new experience, it is just for me to build on that start,” the all-rounder has disclosed.
In the 2021 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Shepherd was the tournament’s joint leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets, and he also scored 109 runs.
“For me, in that tournament, my goal was to be the best bowler in that tournament, and whenever I got the chance to bat, show that I am capable with the bat. When you got a good start, it’s easy to kick-on from there. I did well in my first and second game, and that gave me a really good foundation. My bowling was going good, so my batting got confidence,” Shepherd explained.
Starting his cricketing career as a batsman at Tucber Park, Shepherd has said he is working very hard on his batting.
“My goal is to be a world-class all-rounder, not just be the best all-rounder in the West Indies. I try to be one of the best all-rounders in the world. For me, you have to work hard for that, you cannot set the goal and not work for it. I am really working hard on it. Hopefully, one day I will be in the conversation on who is the best all-rounder in the world. Hopefully, my name can come up in that conversation.”

Intends to play Test cricket, learning
from India series
Sharing his sentiments on whether he wants to play Test cricket, Shepherd has said the longest format is still on his radar. The right-hander has 25 First-class matches under his belt, with 74 wickets at an average of 24.62.
“Test cricket is the highest level of cricket for me. I have been doing well in First-class cricket, and it has been a while since I played a First-class game, so I have to go back there and get back in that groove. For this season, I do not think I will be available. Hopefully, I have to wait until I get that opportunity again in First-class cricket,” Shepherd disclosed.
Fresh from a series’ defeat in India, Shepherd has said he has learnt a lot from the opposition, and it was difficult to beat India in India. “Even when I as on the bench in the ODIs, I learnt a lot. When I had the opportunities in the T20s, I tried and did some stuff I think that will work in that condition.
“The last game, it did not work out for me as I would have wanted to. But it is T20 cricket, and when you playing against good players on good wickets, it is really tough. It is just for me to go out there and do the things I practise,” Shepherd explained.
The 2022 IPL is set for March 26, and Shepherd will be among the 17 West Indians playing on the biggest franchise stage.