By Kaif - Mar 09, 2025 03:12 PM
Why is Matt Henry not playing in the final match of IND vs NZ? Know the reason: New Zealand is in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against India in Dubai. Both the teams are clashing in the final of the white ball ICC tournament after 25 years. In the year 2000, India had to face defeat in the final of the ICC Knockout Trophy and today it will try to take revenge from the Kiwi team. New Zealand suffered a major setback before the title match against India, as key fast bowler Matt Henry is not a part of the match. Henry is injured and he could not get fit for the match. For this reason, the Kiwi team has to go against India without him.
Image Source: ICC-X
There was already doubt over Matt Henry's playing in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 against India. The main reason for this was Henry's injury in the semi-final match against South Africa. Henry suffered a shoulder injury while catching Heinrich Klaasen at long on in that match and he also went out of the field for some time. He came back later and bowled two more overs but did not look fully fit. After the match, captain Mitchell Santner hoped that Henry would be fit by the final but that did not happen.
Matt Henry had a last minute fitness test before the toss in the final match against India but he could not pass it. For this reason, New Zealand was forced to take the decision to exclude Henry. The exclusion of this fast bowler is definitely a big blow for the Kiwi team, because he is the most successful bowler in the tournament with 10 wickets. He also took 5 wickets in the last match against India.
Image Source: ICC-X
New Zealand has included fast bowler Nathan Smith in place of injured Matt Henry in the final match against India. Smith played his only match in the Champions Trophy 2025 against Pakistan on 19 February, in which he took 1 wicket for 20 runs. The Kiwi team will hope that Smith will make up for Henry's absence with his bowling.
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