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New Zealand In Trouble? Matt Henry’s Injury Raises Doubts For Champions Trophy Final

Rajgeeta

Matt Henry doutbful for Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: AP]Matt Henry doutbful for Champions Trophy 2025 [Source: AP]

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New Zealand star fast bowler, Matt Henry, suffered a shoulder injury while fielding against South Africa in the Champions Trophy semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, March 5. Despite the setback, Black Caps secured their spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 final for the first time since 2009 with a 50-run victory over South Africa. 

Now, Kiwis under the leadership of Mitchell Santner will face Rohit Sharma's India in the ICC tournament finals for the third time at the Dubai International Cricket Ground on Sunday, March 9. However, ahead of the big final, the team now faces a major concern—will Henry be fit to play?

How Did Matt Henry Get Injured?

During the 29th over of the match, the 33-year-old pacer attempted a diving catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen. While he successfully completed the catch, he ended up hurting his right shoulder in the process. 

Physios immediately attended to him, and he had to leave the field. Henry managed to bowl only seven overs in the game, which is worrying for NZ as they prepare for the final against India on March 9.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner provided an update on Henry’s condition, stating that his shoulder was sore and the team would monitor him over the next couple of days.

“Have to wait and see how Matt Henry's shoulder is. It's a bit sore, we have to wait for a couple of days and see,” Santner said after the match.

Despite Henry’s injury, NZ delivered a strong performance against South Africa. The Kiwis dominated in all departments, securing a comfortable 50-run victory. South Africa struggled for most of the match, but David Miller kept their hopes alive with a fighting century (100 runs).

Matt Henry has been the best bowler in this tournament, taking 10 wickets in just four matches. He was a major threat to India in the group-stage match in Dubai, where he took five wickets, dismissing key players like Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. 

However, despite Henry’s efforts, India managed to win that game by 44 runs, thanks to Varun Chakaravarthy’s brilliant spin bowling.

Will Henry Play the Final Against India?

With just a few days left before the final, New Zealand are anxiously waiting to see if Henry recovers in time. His absence would be a big blow for the team, given his match-winning ability with the ball. The final decision on his availability will likely come closer to match day.