Romario Shepherd smashes unique IPL record by a mile courtesy of unbeaten 50 against CSK

Romario Shepherd's explosive 14-ball fifty against CSK broke several IPL records, while helping guiding RCB to a crucial win over their arch-rivals.

Romario Shepherd smashes unique IPL record by a mile courtesy of unbeaten 50 against CSK

RCB's Romario Shepherd scored a record-breaking 14-ball half-century against CSK. (via India Today)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Romario Shepherd shattered several records, with his 14-ball half-century against Chennai Super Kings, in a crucial IPL encounter. Shepherd’s late-innings acceleration marked a unique record, as he became the first player to score a fifty after the 15th over.

Guyanese Romario Shepherd had a night to remember against Chennai Super Kings, after he brought up a half-century off just 14 balls, smashing four boundaries and six sixes at a strike rate of 378.57, in the last two overs of RCB’s innings against CSK. Courtesy to Shepherd’s game-changing knock, Bengaluru managed to post a massive first innings total of 213 runs for the loss of five wickets, in their 20 overs.

Batting first at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home side got off to a good start, thanks to a 97-run opening stand between Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli. Among many firsts, 21-year-old Bethell registered his first IPL fifty, as he scored 55 runs off 33 balls. Kohli on the other hand, chipped in with 62 runs. However, a few wickets in the middle-overs slowed RCB’s prospect of getting past the 200-run mark.

While the Challengers were staring at a below-par total of around 180-190 runs, Romario Shepherd had different plans. He came out to bat in the 18th over, following skipper Rajat Patidar’s dismissal, and went on a rampage against the CSK bowlers. The 30-year-old all-rounder scored 33 runs in the 19th over bowled by Khaleel Ahmed, and another 21 runs off Matheesha Pathirana’s final over.

Romario Shepherd achieved the joint second-fastest fifty in IPL history. His blistering innings equaled the 14-ball record held by KL Rahul and Pat Cummins, while narrowly missing Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s 13-ball fastest fifty from 2023. It is worth noting that Shepherd’s half-century was the quickest ever by an RCB player, surpassing Chris Gayle‘s previous record of a half-century off just 17 balls, in 2013.

Romario Shepherd also set another unique milestone, something that has never been achieved in the IPL. Coming out to bat in the last ball of the 18th over, the West Indies all-rounder became the only player in the history of the competition to score a half-century, after the 15th over of an innings. He also broke the season’s record for the fastest half-century, set by RR prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a few days ago.

Meanwhile, chasing the 214-run target, CSK fought until the end, thanks to 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre’s 94 and Ravindra Jadeja’s 77, but fell two runs short, finishing at 211/5. The win marked CSK’s ninth of the season, while helping RCB make it back to the top of the IPL 2025 table.

MS Dhoni takes blame for CSK’s unfortunate IPL defeat to RCB, says ‘should have converted more shots’

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni took blame for the team’s poor defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in a thrilling 2025 IPL contest. The five-time IPL winners lost to RCB by a narrow margin of just two runs, while chasing a mammoth 214-run target.

MS Dhoni on CSK defeat blame
MS Dhoni took the blame for CSK’s defeat to RCB, in a match that was overshadowed by Romario Shepherd’s innings. (via ESPNCricinfo)

MS Dhoni, who is known for his iconic finishing prowess, failed to take the Men in Yellow across the line. The 43-year-old took the blame for not being able to score 35 runs off the last three overs, before falling LBW to Yash Dayal in the final over. Speaking after the match, Dhoni disappointingly stated that he should have converted more shots, in order to ease the pressure on the Men in Yellow, at the end. 

When I went into that with the kind of deliveries and the runs needed, I felt I should have converted maybe a couple of more shots, and that would have eased the pressure. So, I would take the blame for it.

MS Dhoni following CSK’s defeat to RCB (H/T ESPNCricinfo)

MS Dhoni managed a brief 12 runs off eight deliveries, which included a single six off the final ball of Bhuvneshwar Kumar‘s 19th over. In a tense final over where 15 runs were needed, Dayal remarkably conceded only 12 runs, even after bowling a costly no-ball.