RCB's Jacob Bethell Praises Romario Shepherd's Explosive Innings Against CSK

Shepherd's Power Display Lights Up IPL Match

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 3: Jacob Bethell, the opener for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), shared his thoughts after witnessing a remarkable performance by Romario Shepherd during the IPL 2025 match against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

In the closing stages of the first innings, Shepherd showcased his strength by hitting consecutive sixes, demonstrating his power hitting. A fortunate edge on the third ball resulted in a boundary, adding to his impressive tally.

The Caribbean batsman caused chaos for Khaleel Ahmed and the CSK bowlers, launching two sixes in quick succession. Although Khaleel managed to deliver a dot ball on the fifth delivery, he ultimately conceded 33 runs in the penultimate over after Shepherd struck a four on the last ball.

In the final over, Pathirana attempted to rein in Shepherd, but the West Indies star responded with a four and a six, achieving a rapid 50-run partnership in just 15 balls. Shepherd concluded his innings with an unbeaten 53 off 14 balls, propelling RCB to a formidable total of 213/5.

Reflecting on Shepherd's innings, Bethell remarked during a mid-innings interview, “Watching Shepherd was incredible. He didn’t connect perfectly with many balls, yet he was still hitting them out of the ground, showcasing his immense power. It was great to see him perform like that, especially with Tim David at the other end. Our discussions focused on maintaining our hitting approach and adapting to the pitch conditions, which felt a bit less bouncy than usual.”

Bethell also discussed his partnership with Virat Kohli, as they formed a solid opening stand of 97 runs off 59 balls, with both players scoring half-centuries—Bethell with 55 and Kohli with 62.

“Virat mentioned that the new ball offered a better wicket, making batting easier with minimal swing. Batting alongside him is always exciting, and I enjoyed spending more time with him today. After I walked off, I felt satisfied with our total of 213, especially considering a few hiccups in the middle. I hope our spinners can capitalize on this in the middle overs, but Romario's striking has certainly set us up well,” the left-handed batsman concluded.