New Zealand pacer Matt Henry is doubtful for the Champions Trophy 2025 final against India on Sunday (March 9) due to an injury.
Henry picked up a shoulder injury while taking a catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen in the New Zealand-South Africa semi-final. But he returned to the field later to bowl two more overs. After the match, captain Mitchell Santner seemed optimistic about the extent of Henry’s injury, saying he was "sore but fine".
Also read: Latest ICC rankings: Updated ODI table after Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals
Matt Henry's fitness for Champions Trophy final 'a little bit unknown'
Head coach Gary Stead, however, is apprehensive about the pacer’s availability for the final. "I guess the positive thing from our perspective is he got back out there to bowl," he told reporters on Friday (March 7).
Stead added: "We've had some scans and stuff done on him, and we're going to give him every chance to be playing in this match. [But it's] still a little bit unknown at this stage. He's obviously pretty sore just from landing on the point of his shoulder. Hopefully he will be okay."
With 10 wickets at an average of 16.70, Henry has been the tournament’s highest wicket-taker so far. When New Zealand met India earlier in the group-stage, he took 5-42 off his eight overs, becoming the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul against the ‘Men in Blue’ in the Champions Trophy.
New Zealand have a spare quick in Jacob Duffy in their squad. Should Henry fail to recover in time, Duffy could come in as an injury replacement. Duffy is yet to play in this year’s tournament, with his previous outing coming in the preceding tri-series in Pakistan, where he took 1-48 against the hosts off his seven overs.
Henry’s unavailability will be a huge positive for India, who are eyeing their third title, having jointly won with Sri Lanka in 2002 and under MS Dhoni’s leadership in 2013. It was Henry whose new-ball spell played a significant role in denying India a place in the 2019 World Cup final, as he rattled India's top-order in the semi-final to help his side to defend 239-8.
