TATA IPL 2024: MI Focused on KKR Clash, Unfazed by Standings, says Romario Shepherd
Sitting near the bottom of the points table with only six points from 10 matches, the Mumbai Indians face an uphill battle. With just four games left, even if they win all of them, they can only reach a maximum of 14 points. Many doubt whether this will be sufficient to secure a playoff spot for the five-time champions. Nevertheless, Romario Shepherd, the West Indies batsman for Mumbai Indians, emphasized that their sole focus is on winning each upcoming game without dwelling too much on the final points tally.
Mumbai Indians will kick off their final stretch of matches with a showdown against Kolkata Knight Riders at the revered Wankhede Stadium, where they will play three of their last four games. Kolkata Knight Riders currently hold the second spot in the points table, boasting 12 points from nine matches and showing consistent form that positions them well for the playoffs. However, Romario Shepherd emphasized that Mumbai Indians are unfazed by KKR's strong position and are solely focused on their upcoming clash, regardless of their opponents' current standing.
"Well, you know, we have to play to win and that's the way we play KKR, to win each game. So, it doesn't matter how many points we can get to; we're going to play each game and try to win as big as possible. And if there is an opportunity, you know, that's the only way we can actually get opportunities if we win the games", said Shepherd in the pre-match press conference at the Wankhede Stadium.
Shepherd's Mumbai Indians debut was nothing short of sensational, marked by a stunning performance in their first home game against Delhi Capitals on April 7. In a memorable display, he smashed four sixes and two fours off South African pacer Anrich Nortje in the final over, amassing 32 runs and ending the match with a total of 39 runs from just 10 balls. Despite this explosive start, Shepherd has seen limited opportunities since then, batting in only four innings out of five matches. Nonetheless, he has managed to accumulate 56 runs overall at an impressive strike rate of 280.00.
However, Shepherd said the reason he did not get many chances was that his performance was not up to par, and he hoped that he would get more opportunities in the remaining four matches. "Well, if my performance has been up to par, I wouldn't be out of the team and stuff like that. But you know, hopefully, I can contribute again with bat or ball to our next win. But as of now, you know, I have to just wait and see whenever I get that opportunity again and hopefully contribute to the team because, you know, we need some wins to get out from the bottom of the table", he added.
