Pokemon celebration: Blair Tickner celebrates uniquely after dismissing Naman Dhir in 5th T20I at Hamilton

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Pokemon celebration: Blair Tickner celebrates uniquely after dismissing Naman Dhir in 5th T20I at Hamilton originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner pulled out a Pokemon card to celebrate dismissing Naman Dhir in Hamilton.
  • The card carried a fire energy icon. 
  • Tickner finished with 2/38 as India posted 191/8 in their twenty overs.

WATCH: Blair Tickner’s bizarre Pokémon celebration after removing Naman Dhir in 5th T20I

Blair Tickner found a very different way to celebrate the dismissal of Naman Dhir in the fifth T20I by producing a Pokemon card from his pocket. 

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Once the usual huddle had broken up, Tickner reached into his pocket and took out an official Pokemon trading card with a red fire energy symbol on it. He held it up proudly towards the broadcast cameras, and as a final touch he planted a kiss on the card before putting it away again.

The wicket itself mattered a great deal, because Dhir had been batting well and looked set to push India past 200 on his own until Tickner removed him for 33 off 23 balls.

Dhir had survived a few moments of good fortune before this ball, but his luck ran out in the 19th over. Tickner sent down a knuckle ball outside off stump, and Dhir tried to hit it out of Hamilton, only to get a top edge that went high into the air.

Michael Bracewell was stationed at extra cover, and he back-pedalled, dived and held on to a superb catch.

By the time the innings was finished, India had posted 191/8 in 20 overs, with half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and quick runs from Shreyas Iyer. Even so, it was the card, and not the total, that had most people talking on social media.

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What is a Pokemon fire energy card?

The card in the picture, a Fire Energy card, comes from the Pokemon Trading Card Game, in which players build decks of creatures and battle each other.

Energy cards are the fuel of that game, because a player has to attach them to a Pokemon in order to use its attacks.

A Fire Energy card powers Fire-type Pokemon, and it is easy to spot since it has the word Energy at the top, a red-orange background and a black flame symbol in the centre. Basic energy cards like it are common, which makes them a fun item to keep as a collectable.

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Fans react to Tickner’s Pokemon card celebration

The first reaction was a playful guess about why a fast bowler would carry such a card.

@KishanNavadiya4 asked: “Blair Tickner kissing a Pokemon Card after taking Naman Dhir wicket? Maybe for his daughter 🤔 #INDvsNZ”

A second fan simply approved of the choice. @Indiancric_ wrote: “Good pokemon taste Tickner 🔥”

Another user suspected that the bowler is a real collector and admitted to being surprised. @Guyr1tchie posted: “Tickner with a fire energy card🤣 he’s a pokemon card collector for sure. Didnt see that coming🤣 #INDvsNZ”

MORE: IND vs NZ 5th T20I predicted playing XI: Will Sooryavanshi start in Hamilton?

The last post came from a supporter who felt a kinship with the bowler. @jonsnow272 wrote: “Blair Tickner Took out a Pokemon Card by celebrating wicket of Naman Dhir 💥🔥 Tickner is one of us 😂🤩 Image Credit: Sonyliv #BlairTickner #INDvsNZ #5thT20I”

Tickner’s Pokémon celebration is fun!

Cricket does not always give its players room for personality, so a celebration like this one deserves a smile. Tickner took a wicket, shared it with his teammates and then did something that had no connection to the usual roar or point to the sky, and the whole thing lasted only a few seconds.

What makes it work is the lack of malice in it. There was no send-off for the batter and no attempt to show anyone up, and Dhir had played a good innings of 33 before getting out to a fine catch. 

It also shows how much the game has changed on screen. A moment like this travels far beyond the stadium, and fans who rarely watch cricket may now notice the clip and come back for more. 

The bowler should, of course, be judged by his figures, and 2/38 with the wicket of Kishan was a good effort. Yet if a Pokemon card is what turns that spell into a memorable one, the sport is better off for it.

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