DP World ILT20 Season 5 — 2026

ILT20 2026 Most Sixes

All time six hitting records, biggest hitters and power batting across all ILT20 seasons.

ILT20 Most Sixes: All Time Records and Season 5 Leaderboard

Nicholas Pooran of MI Emirates holds the all time record for most sixes in ILT20 history with 71 maximums across multiple seasons. Alex Hales sits second with 58 sixes and Muhammad Waseem, the UAE captain and leading local performer, is third with 55 sixes. These three players have defined six hitting in ILT20 across Seasons 1 to 4 and all three are expected to feature in Season 5 starting 22 November 2026.

Sixes in ILT20 are not just highlights. They are match defining moments that directly change scores, shift momentum, and break bowling strategies. Here is what the top three six hitters in ILT20 history have proven about how sixes win T20 matches:

Pooran’s 71 sixes came at an average of 45.90 across 1,010 total runs, which means his six hitting was not reckless aggression but calculated power that consistently produced big innings rather than brief cameos. The combination of volume and efficiency is what separates him from any other six hitter in the tournament
Alex Hales built 58 of his sixes while accumulating the all time leading run total of 1,156, which means his six hitting contributed to sustained match winning innings rather than isolated moments. His century and nine fifties came alongside those sixes, not instead of them
Muhammad Waseem’s 55 sixes as a UAE domestic player competing against international franchise stars is the most remarkable six hitting achievement in ILT20 history. He also leads the tournament’s all time catches list with 20 catches, making him the most complete UAE performer across all departments
The 200 run mark has been crossed 12 times in ILT20 history and sixes have been the primary driver of those totals. MI Emirates, who have produced five of those 12 occasions including the record 241 for 3, have consistently relied on Pooran’s six hitting ability to accelerate past 200

ILT20 All Time Most Sixes: Top Three Leaders

These are the confirmed all time six hitting leaders in ILT20 history heading into Season 5:

Nicholas Pooran (MI Emirates): 71 sixes across all ILT20 seasons, the most by any player in tournament history. His sixes have come at all three UAE venues but his Sharjah performances, where the shorter boundaries suit his aggressive cross bat hitting, have been especially prolific
Alex Hales (Desert Vipers, then Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for Season 4): 58 sixes across ILT20 history alongside the all time leading run total of 1,156. Hales as an opener hits sixes specifically in the powerplay when field restrictions allow attacking shots to land in gaps rather than finding fielders
Muhammad Waseem (MI Emirates): 55 sixes as a UAE domestic player, which is the most by any local cricketer in ILT20 history. Waseem also holds the all time catches record with 20 dismissals, making him the standout UAE performer across all five completed seasons including Season 5
Season 5 most sixes leaderboard updates here from 22 November 2026 after every completed match across all 34 fixtures at Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi through to the final on 20 December 2026

Which ILT20 Venue Produces the Most Sixes

Sharjah Cricket Stadium is by far the most productive venue for six hitting in ILT20. Its shorter boundaries make clearing the rope significantly easier than at Dubai or Abu Dhabi, which is why the most sixes leaderboard leaders have built large portions of their totals at Sharjah specifically. Understanding the venue difference helps explain why the same batter can have very different six counts depending on the fixture schedule:

At Sharjah, a well timed drive along the ground in the V clears the rope as a six. At Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the same shot lands just inside the boundary. This boundary dimension difference is why Sharjah produces significantly more sixes per match than the other two venues and why power hitters build their highest strike rates in Sharjah fixtures specifically
Dubai International Stadium requires cleaner ball striking to hit sixes. The larger outfield means top edges and bottom edges that go for six at Sharjah land safely in the outfield at Dubai. Batters who hit genuine maximums over the boundary rope rather than relying on top edge sixes perform proportionally better at Dubai than pure sloggers
Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is the hardest venue to hit sixes at in ILT20. The slower surface means timing is less automatic and the ball does not come on to the bat as readily as at Sharjah. Spinners who bowl slower through the air also reduce the pace that power hitters rely on to generate the carry needed to clear the boundary

When Sixes Matter Most in ILT20 Matches

Not all sixes are equal in T20 cricket. A six in the 3rd over of a powerplay is worth less than a six in the 19th over of a close chase. Understanding which phases of the match produce the highest value sixes helps explain why certain players appear on the most sixes list without necessarily being the most impactful batters in the tournament:

Powerplay sixes from openers (overs 1 to 6) change match dynamics by setting scoring rates that put opposing captains under pressure immediately. Hales hitting two sixes in the first three overs forces the fielding captain to consider defensive field changes that then create gaps for singles and twos
Death over sixes from finishers (overs 17 to 20) are the most valuable single shots in franchise cricket because they come when runs are hardest to score and fielders are set on the boundary. Pooran’s ability to clear the rope at Sharjah in the death overs against set fielders is the specific skill that makes him the most dangerous finisher in ILT20 history
Chase-defining sixes in the middle overs (overs 11 to 15) are the most psychologically damaging for bowling sides. A six when a target looks difficult does more than add six runs to the required rate calculation. It shifts confidence from the bowling side to the batting side in a way that no boundary four can match

FAQs

Who holds the record for most sixes in ILT20 history?

Nicholas Pooran of MI Emirates holds the all time record for most sixes in ILT20 history with 71 maximums across multiple seasons. Alex Hales is second with 58 sixes and Muhammad Waseem, the UAE captain, is third with 55 sixes. Pooran’s 71 sixes came alongside 1,010 total runs at an average of 45.90, making him the most destructive and consistent batter in tournament history.

Which ILT20 venue produces the most sixes?

Sharjah Cricket Stadium produces the most sixes in ILT20 by a significant margin. Its shorter boundaries mean well timed shots that would land inside the rope at Dubai or Abu Dhabi clear the boundary at Sharjah. The 200 run mark has been crossed 12 times in ILT20 history and Sharjah matches account for the majority of those occasions, with the most sixes per match of any venue in the tournament.

How many sixes has Muhammad Waseem hit in ILT20?

Muhammad Waseem has hit 55 sixes in ILT20 history, the most by any UAE domestic player in the tournament. He is third on the all time sixes list behind Nicholas Pooran (71) and Alex Hales (58). Waseem also leads the tournament’s all time catches list with 20 dismissals, making him the most complete UAE performer across all departments in ILT20 history.

Why are death over sixes more valuable than powerplay sixes?

Death over sixes (overs 17 to 20) come when fielders are set on the boundary and bowlers are at their most experienced in restricting scoring. Clearing the rope against a set field in the final overs requires more skill and power than hitting sixes when field restrictions in the powerplay leave gaps. A death over six from a player like Pooran at Sharjah in the 19th over is worth more than three boundaries in the first six overs in terms of match impact.

When will the Season 5 most sixes leaderboard start updating?

The ILT20 Season 5 most sixes leaderboard starts updating from the opening match on 22 November 2026 and continues after every completed fixture through to the final on 20 December 2026. All 34 matches including playoffs contribute to the six hitting standings.