Watch: Blair Tickner celebrates Naman Dhir’s wicket by kissing Pokémon card in IND vs NZ 5th T20I

New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner grabbed attention with an unusual celebration after dismissing Naman Dhir in the IND vs NZ 5th T20I. Instead of celebrating with his teammates, Tickner pulled a Pokémon card out of his pocket and kissed it, leaving fans surprised.

After the team celebration, Tickner took out an official Pokémon trading card featuring a red Fire Energy symbol. He proudly showed it to the broadcast cameras before kissing it and putting it back in his pocket. His unique celebration quickly became a talking point during the match.

The wicket was also important for New Zealand as Dhir was looking in good touch. The Indian batter scored 33 runs off 23 balls before Tickner dismissed him. 

Watch Blair Tickner’s viral Pokémon card celebration here:

Blair Tickner removes Naman Dhir, then kisses a Pokémon card

New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner gave his team an important breakthrough by dismissing Naman Dhir in the 19th over. Dhir was looking to increase India's scoring rate when Tickner bowled a knuckle ball outside off stump. The batter tried to hit it over the field but managed only a top edge. Michael Bracewell ran backwards from extra cover, dived and completed a superb catch to end Dhir's innings at 33 off 23 balls.

However, it was Tickner's unusual celebration that grabbed the most attention. After completing the wicket, the fast bowler pulled a card with a red fire symbol out of his pocket and showed it to the cameras before kissing it. During the broadcast, former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris identified it as a Pokémon card. The celebration quickly became a talking point among viewers.

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Dhir's dismissal came at an important stage of India's innings. He had added 46 runs with Nitish Kumar Reddy for the sixth wicket, helping India recover after losing five wickets. Tickner finished with figures of 2/38 in four overs, having earlier dismissed Ishan Kishan for 61 off 32 balls. India eventually posted 191/8 in 20 overs.

Why did Tickner kiss a Pokémon card? The story behind the celebration

The card Blair Tickner kissed after dismissing Naman Dhir was a Fire Energy card from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. In the game, players use different cards to build decks of Pokémon and battle against each other. Energy cards play an important role as they help Pokémon use their attacks.

A Fire Energy card provides energy to Fire-type Pokémon. It can be identified by its red-orange background and black flame symbol in the centre. The card Tickner displayed is believed to be a 2014 XY set printing, although a related 2013 deck or promotional version is also possible.

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While the unusual celebration caught everyone's attention, Tickner has not revealed the exact reason behind kissing the card. It was also a memorable moment for the New Zealand pacer, who had earlier dropped a catch to give Shreyas Iyer another chance. Iyer went on to score a quick half-century, but Tickner later made an impact by dismissing Dhir.

Fans react to Tickner’s viral wicket celebration

Blair Tickner’s unusual celebration quickly caught the attention of cricket fans on social media. Many users were curious about why the New Zealand pacer carried a Pokémon card and kissed it after dismissing Naman Dhir. One fan, @KishanNavadiya4, jokingly guessed that the card might be connected to Tickner’s daughter.

Other fans appreciated the bowler’s choice of celebration. @Indiancric_ reacted to the moment by writing, "Good pokemon taste Tickner 🔥". The comment reflected how the unusual gesture entertained viewers during the match.

Some fans also wondered whether Tickner was a Pokémon card collector. @Guyr1tchie shared their surprise, writing, "Tickner with a fire energy card🤣 he's a pokemon card collector for sure. Didnt see that coming🤣 #INDvsNZ". The celebration soon became one of the most talked-about moments of the match. Here is how the fans reacted on X: