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Romario Shepherd Shocks Fans: Leaves Kohli and Rohit Out of His IPL 5-A-Side Six-Hitting Team

Arjun Mehta · · 3 min read
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The Quest for the Ultimate Power-Hitter

As the 2026 Indian Premier League season approaches its thrilling conclusion, the intensity is palpable both on and off the pitch. While teams battle for crucial playoff spots, off-field conversations are capturing the imagination of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. A recent viral video featuring Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) explosive finisher Romario Shepherd has become the talk of the town, specifically for his controversial selections for a hypothetical 5-a-side six-hitting team.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

The RCB Momentum in 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are currently riding a wave of confidence. Having clinched their maiden IPL title in 2025, the defending champions have maintained a formidable presence throughout the current campaign. Under the astute leadership of Rajat Patidar, the side has demonstrated a balanced approach, blending clinical batting with disciplined bowling.

As of the latest standings, RCB occupies a comfortable third place on the points table. With 12 points from 9 matches and a robust net run rate of +1.420, the team is well-positioned for a deep tournament run. Virat Kohli has been the heartbeat of their batting lineup, accumulating 379 runs in 9 outings at an impressive average of 54.14 and a strike rate of 165.50. His contributions, supported by Devdutt Padikkal and the skipper himself, have been vital to the team’s success.

The Bowling Backbone

The success of the squad is not limited to the top order. The bowling attack has proved equally potent, with seasoned campaigners like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar providing stability. The inclusion of Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma has added a layer of variety, ensuring that RCB remains a threat to any opposition lineup.

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The Shepherd Selection Surprise

In a clip that has circulated widely on social media platforms, Romario Shepherd was asked to construct his dream 5-a-side team, specifically focusing on the most destructive six-hitters in the game. Fans were stunned—and perhaps a bit indignant—to see that Shepherd opted to exclude two of the greatest modern-day batters: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Shepherd, who has carved a niche for himself as a late-order finisher for RCB, chose a lineup predicated purely on clearing the boundary ropes with consistency and sheer power. His final squad includes:

  • Tim David
  • Liam Livingstone
  • David Miller
  • Nicholas Pooran
  • Shivam Dube

By opting for these specialists, Shepherd highlighted the evolving nature of T20 cricket, where specialized power-hitters are increasingly favored for their ability to shift the momentum of a game in a handful of deliveries.

Shepherd’s Role and Future Fixtures

Romario Shepherd has played a supporting role for RCB this season, often providing the final flourish. With 56 runs scored across 5 innings at a strike rate of 140.00, his cameo against the Rajasthan Royals—where he smashed 22 off just 11 balls—demonstrated exactly why he values such a specific skillset. The team now looks ahead to a pivotal clash against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 7, 2026, at the Ekana Stadium, a game that could define their seeding for the playoffs.

The Broader Six-Hitting Landscape

The 2026 season has been defined by aggressive stroke play. Young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has stunned the cricket fraternity by leading the six-hitting charts with 37 maximums in just 10 innings. His meteoric rise, alongside the efforts of power-hitters like Ryan Rickelton and Abhishek Sharma, underscores a season of unprecedented run-scoring. Collectively, teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Punjab Kings are rewriting the statistics, with RCB sitting firmly among the top three in the league for sixes hit, ensuring that the remainder of the season promises to be a spectacular display of power hitting.

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Arjun Mehta

Arjun Mehta is a senior cricket analyst and features writer for Cricbuzz, where he deciphers the Indian Premier League auction strategies, player development arcs, and the ever-changing dynamics of the national team. A Pune-based journalist with a sharp eye for numbers and a fluent storytelling style, Mehta has covered every IPL season since 2014 and reported from two ICC Men's T20 World Cups. His work often explores the business of cricket, dressing-room politics, and how grassroots systems across South Asia feed into the global game. An alumnus of Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Arjun is also a popular voice on Cricbuzz Live shows and a regular contributor to cricket podcasts.