Finn Allen, Ryan Rickelton locked in battle to assert six-hitting supremacy in 2026

Finn Allen and Ryan Rickelton are locked in a battle to assert six-hitting supremacy. Both players are natural stroke makers and can take the attack to the opposition.

Allen and Rickelton have hit the joint-most sixes (66) in T20 cricket in 2026 so far. While Allen is taking an average of six balls to smack a ball over the rope this year, Rickelton is doing it every 8.2 balls this year in the shortest format of the game.

India's and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma is third on the charts with 59 sixes. However, Abhishek has a better conversion rate than Rickelton. Abhishek deposits a ball into the crowd every 6.6 balls. Not far behind is his SRH teammate and India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

Ishan is fourth on the list of players with the most sixes in T20s in 2026 thus far. Ishan has hit 56 maximums and hits a six every 8.5 balls of his innings.

Allen's whirlwind hundred keeps KKR in contention for playoffs

Meanwhile, Allen scored an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls to help his IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chase down 143 in match 51 of the ongoing season against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Friday.

Chasing 143, KKR were 31/2 in 3.4 overs before Allen inflicted carnage upon the DC bowlers, and they could never recover from it. The Kiwi opener was adjudged the Player of the Match (POTM) for his spectacular knock as it took KKR over the line with 34 balls to spare.

Allen was happy to get a big one under his belt after he couldn't convert his starts into a big one. He admitted that he was putting a lot of pressure upon himself for getting out cheaply.

"I've been working on having more strings in my bow. Had to be more responsible after a couple of early wickets," Allen said in the post-match presentation. "I tried to knuckle down early, was challenging early on, Axar bowled early. Strategy was to get in a good position and bat deep. That's my model, stay in when it's tough, give myself a chance. 

"I've got a few starts, frustrating not to carry on, nice to have some personal success. When the situation comes, you forget about your batting and focus on the situation. I knew if I stayed out for a long time, 40 balls, doesn't happen too often [I'd score enough]. Sometimes, being left out changes your perspective. Allows time for mental refresh. I was putting on too much pressure on myself."