Gurnoor Brar opens up on war of words with Blair Tickner during IND vs NZ 1st ODI

Gurnoor Brar reveals the banter behind Blair Tickner’s entertaining Eden Park dismissal

India fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has shared the story behind his playful exchange with New Zealand No. 11 Blair Tickner during the first ODI at Eden Park in Auckland. The conversation unfolded in the closing stages of New Zealand’s innings, as Tickner tried to coax Brar into bowling a delivery he could attack. Brar refused to take the bait—and soon had the tailender caught behind.

Tickner had already given the crowd plenty to enjoy, launching four sixes in a brisk cameo. His aggressive approach briefly threatened to make New Zealand’s total more competitive, but Brar held to his short-ball plan. Speaking after the match with former India captain Ajinkya Rahane, the young pacer explained how the exchange developed and why he stayed with his tactics.

Tickner’s late flourish gives New Zealand a lift

Asked to bat first, New Zealand were dismissed for 185 in 40.2 overs. The innings never settled into a sustained partnership, but the lower order added some late entertainment through Tickner, who scored 34 from only 23 deliveries. His innings included one four and four sixes, giving him a strike rate of 147.82.

Tickner’s contribution stood out not only for its speed but also because he came in at No. 11. Batters at the bottom of the order rarely have time to build an innings, making his four maximums a notable achievement. He joined a small group of No. 11 batters to hit four sixes in an ODI innings, following Mohammad Amir, who managed the feat against England in 2016, and Naseem Shah, who did so against New Zealand in 2025.

The venue added another layer to the milestone. Before Tickner’s innings, only one No. 11 had hit more than two sixes against India in an ODI: New Zealand’s Shane Bond, who struck three at Eden Park in 2003. Tickner cleared the boundary four times at the same ground, making his late burst a memorable feature of the match.

What Brar and Tickner said in the middle

The banter began after Tickner attempted to pull a short delivery from Brar but failed to make clean contact. Brar gestured towards him, apparently indicating how he might have played the shot. Tickner answered by pointing towards his stumps, challenging the bowler to target them.

According to Brar, the New Zealand batter repeatedly asked him to bowl at the stumps because he wanted a fuller delivery. A ball pitched up could have allowed Tickner to swing through the line and aim for another six. Brar recognised the invitation and decided not to change his approach.

Recounting the exchange to Rahane, Brar said Tickner kept asking him to hit the stumps. The Indian pacer replied that if Tickner wanted to practise shadow batting, he could do it in the dressing room rather than in the middle. Brar added that he told the batter he would get him out from where he was bowling.

The remark proved prophetic. Brar continued with the short delivery, and Tickner edged the ball through to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. The dismissal ended the lively contest and gave Brar the final say in a sequence that combined tactical discipline with light-hearted cricketing theatre.

Brar’s three-wicket spell helps India restrict New Zealand

Brar’s dismissal of Tickner completed an important spell. He finished with three wickets for 44 runs from 9.2 overs, also removing Tim Seifert and New Zealand captain Tom Latham. Latham fell to a caught-and-bowled effort, underlining Brar’s contribution at both ends of the innings.

Arshdeep Singh led India’s attack with four wickets, while Anshul Kamboj claimed two. Together, the bowlers prevented New Zealand’s lower-order resistance from turning into a more substantial total. Tickner’s late hitting made the scoreline more respectable, but India had a manageable target when the innings ended.

For Brar, the spell offered more than a highlight-reel dismissal. His decision to stick with a plan under pressure showed how a bowler can use field awareness and an understanding of a batter’s intentions to shape an over. Tickner was looking for a chance to free his arms; Brar instead kept the ball short and forced him to manufacture the shot.

Kohli leads India through a rain-affected chase

India’s pursuit was interrupted by rain, prompting a revision under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. The target was reset to 143 from 32 overs, and the hosts reached 143 for five in 22.4 overs to win by five wickets, with 56 balls remaining.

Virat Kohli top-scored with 74 from 51 balls, giving the chase its strongest foundation. Shubman Gill added 37, helping India maintain control after the revised target was announced. Anshul Kamboj was named Player of the Match for his performance as India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series.

Match prediction: India gain early momentum

India’s opening victory gives them a valuable advantage, especially after a disciplined bowling display and a confident chase. New Zealand will need greater top-order consistency in the next ODI, while India can take encouragement from contributions across the attack and a decisive innings from Kohli. Any prediction for the remainder of the series will depend on how quickly New Zealand’s batters respond and whether India can maintain the same control with the ball.

For now, the first match will be remembered for both its result and its lighter moments. Tickner’s four sixes made him one of the most unlikely entertainers of the innings, while Brar’s composed response ensured the New Zealand batter’s cameo ended on India’s terms.