Michael Pepper
Player Information
Player Overview
Michael Pepper is an England wicketkeeper batter born in Harlow, Essex. He plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. He has been one of Essex’s most consistent T20 performers over recent seasons, earning opportunities in The Hundred and ILT20, along with an England call up for the tour of the Caribbean in late 2024.
Playing Style
Michael Pepper combines the solid technique developed through red ball cricket with the innovation required in modern T20 cricket. He plays reverse sweeps, late dabs, and improvised scoops while maintaining a technically sound batting approach. He bats right handed and keeps wicket, giving Abu Dhabi Knight Riders additional flexibility when selecting their playing eleven.
Which Team Does Michael Pepper Play for in ILT20?
Michael Pepper plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. He is an England wicketkeeper batter who represents Essex in county cricket. By the end of the 2025 season, he had scored 2,109 runs in 76 T20 appearances for Essex at an average of 31.95. He joined Abu Dhabi Knight Riders from the 2024 to 2025 season and continues with the franchise in Season 5.
Career Background
Michael Pepper was born on 25 June 1998 in Harlow, Essex. He established himself in the Essex first team as an explosive T20 batter before becoming the club’s first choice wicketkeeper across formats. His career best T20 innings came when he smashed an unbeaten 120 from just 53 balls against Sussex, helping Essex complete a remarkable chase and earning Performance of the Year at the 2024 Essex Cricket Awards.
During the 2024 T20 Blast, Pepper scored 535 runs in 13 innings at an average of 44.58 and an outstanding strike rate of 193.84. He also hit 32 sixes, the highest total in the competition, while adding 523 County Championship runs at an average of 43.58. Those performances earned him his first England call up for the ODI series against West Indies in late 2024.
ILT20 Record
Michael Pepper plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders are owned by the Knight Riders Group, the same company behind Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL. The team plays its home matches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Knight Riders’ global cricket network provides Pepper with the opportunity to develop alongside experienced international players in one of the world’s leading franchise systems.
ILT20 Season 5 Context
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders play their home matches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, a venue known for offering more assistance to spin bowlers than the other ILT20 grounds. The slower surface rewards batters who can adapt their tempo and rotate the strike through the middle overs. Pepper arrives after an outstanding 2024 T20 Blast season in which he scored 535 runs at an average of 44.58, proving he can maintain high performance across a full franchise tournament.
Playing Style at UAE Venues
Michael Pepper bats right handed and keeps wicket. His unbeaten 120 from only 53 balls against Sussex highlighted his ability to score rapidly under pressure while chasing a challenging target. Beyond his power hitting, he is comfortable rotating the strike and manipulating the field against spin, qualities that suit the slower conditions at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. His wicketkeeping also allows Abu Dhabi Knight Riders greater flexibility when balancing their batting and bowling options during ILT20 Season 5.