The Guyanese power-hitter
Hetmyer is a left-handed batter from Guyana who hits the ball as hard as anyone in world cricket, and he was a direct signing for the Vipers before the Season 5 auction. He is one of four players the champions kept without going to auction, alongside Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
His most famous achievement came in 2016, when he captained West Indies to the Under-19 World Cup title in Bangladesh, beating India in the final. He has since become one of the most destructive middle-order batters in T20 cricket, with a strike rate above 140 in the format and a reputation for clearing the ropes at will. The Vipers kept him for the title defence because his power-hitting wins games — and because he knows what it takes to win this league.
| Profile | Detail |
|---|---|
| Role | Batter |
| Team | Desert Vipers |
| Batting | Left-handed bat |
| Born | 26 December 1996, Guyana |
Career so far
Hetmyer made his West Indies debut in 2017 and has played more than 50 T20Is, scoring a hundred against England in 2019. He has played in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, where he has been a regular in the side that reached the 2024 final.
His franchise career has taken him to the CPL for Guyana Amazon Warriors, the BBL for Sydney Sixers, and the ILT20 for the Vipers, where he was part of the title-winning Season 4 squad — though injury curtailed his time with the side. His most famous innings include a 139 off 106 balls for West Indies against India in 2019. At 29, he is one of the most feared finishers in T20 cricket — and the Vipers have kept him for the title defence.
The batting around him
Babar and Fakhar open it, Tector and Lawrence add the class — and Hetmyer fits into that line-up as the finisher — the left-handed batter who can come in at five or six and score 50 off 20 balls.
His value is in his power: when the Vipers need 60 off the last five overs, Hetmyer is the man who can score them. His injury in Season 4 meant he did not play as much as the side would have liked, but his return for Season 5 — as a direct signing — says everything about how the franchise rates him.
What’s next
Hetmyer's season starts with the title defence: the opener against MI Emirates on 21 November in Dubai, a repeat of the Season 4 final. The full list of every ILT20 fixture is on the ILT20 Schedule.
- Match 1 — MI Emirates: Saturday 21 November 2026, 6:30 PM GST, Dubai.
- Match 4 — Sharjah Warriorz: Monday 23 November 2026, evening session, Sharjah.
- Match 6 — Dubai Capitals: Wednesday 25 November 2026, evening session, Dubai.
- Match 9 — MI Emirates: Saturday 28 November 2026, afternoon session, Abu Dhabi.
- Match 12 — Gulf Giants: Sunday 29 November 2026, evening session, Dubai.
- Match 15 — Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Wednesday 2 December 2026, afternoon session, Abu Dhabi.
- Match 18 — Sharjah Warriorz: Friday 4 December 2026, evening session, Sharjah.
- Match 21 — Dubai Capitals: Sunday 6 December 2026, evening session, Dubai.
- Match 27 — Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Saturday 12 December 2026, evening session, Dubai.
- Match 29 — Gulf Giants: Sunday 13 December 2026, evening session, Dubai.
- Playoffs: Qualifier 1 on Tuesday 16 December, the Eliminator on Wednesday 17 December, Qualifier 2 on Friday 18 December, and the final on Sunday 20 December in Dubai.
Follow every ILT20 result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
Did Shimron Hetmyer captain West Indies to a World Cup?
Yes — the Under-19 World Cup in 2016, when West Indies beat India in the final in Bangladesh.
Was Shimron Hetmyer a direct signing for the Vipers?
Yes. He was one of four direct signings before the Season 5 auction, alongside Andries Gous, Dan Lawrence and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
When do the Desert Vipers open ILT20 Season 5?
Hetmyer's title defence starts with the opener: match 1 against MI Emirates on Saturday 21 November 2026, 6:30 PM GST, at Dubai International Stadium.