NEW DELHI: Romario Shepherd walked in, saw the ball, and launched it into orbit — that’s the kind of explosive intent he brought when Royal Challengers Bengaluru were desperate for quick runs. Coming to the crease with RCB reeling at 159 for 5 in 18 overs, Shepherd turned the game on its head in spectacular fashion.
The West Indian powerhouse etched his name in IPL folklore by smashing a 14-ball fifty, making it the joint-second fastest half-century in IPL history. He now shares the feat with KL Rahul and Pat Cummins, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 13-ball fifty in 2023 ahead of them.
This was also the quickest half-century ever recorded by an RCB batter in IPL history.
Shepherd’s destruction reached its peak in the 19th over when he hammered 33 runs off Khaleel Ahmed: 6, 6, 4, 6, no-ball 6, dot, 4. If that wasn’t enough, he took on death-overs specialist Matheesha Pathirana in the 20th, smashing 2 sixes and 2 fours to power RCB to a massive 213/5.
A proven force in the death overs, Shepherd’s record is staggering: 128 runs off just 42 balls in overs 19 and 20, with a strike rate of 304.76, 10 fours, 13 sixes, and just two dismissals — the hallmark of a true finisher.
Fastest fifty in IPL history (by balls faced)
13 – Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) vs KKR, 2023
14 – KL Rahul (PBKS) vs DC, 2018
14 – Pat Cummins (KKR) vs MI, 2022
14 – Romario Shepherd (RCB) vs CSK, 2025*
Romario in Overs 19-20 in the IPL
128 off 42, two dismissals, SR: 304.76, 10 fours, 13 sixes
