Matt Henry’s injury makes New Zealand sweat ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final vs. India

On Wednesday, March 5, when fielding against South Africa in the Champions Trophy semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, New Zealand's top fast bowler, Matt Henry, sustained a shoulder injury. 

Despite the loss, the Black Caps defeated South Africa by 50 runs to guarantee their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 final for the first time since 2009.

Mitchell Santner's Kiwis will now play Rohit Sharma's India in the ICC event finals for the third time on Sunday, March 9, at the Dubai International Cricket Ground. But the team now has a serious worry before the big final: will Henry be able to play?

Matt Henry suffers shoulder injury

The 33-year-old pacer tried a diving grab to get Heinrich Klaasen out of the game in the 29th over. He managed to make the grab, but in the process, he injured his right shoulder. 

He was treated by physiotherapists right away, and he was forced to exit the field. Henry only bowled seven overs during the match, which is concerning for New Zealand as they get ready to play India in the final on March 9.

With ten wickets in just four games, Matt Henry has been the tournament's best bowler. In the group-stage match in Dubai, he was a serious threat to India, taking five wickets and getting rid of important players like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.

Mitchell Santner gives an update on Matt Henry’s injury

Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, gave an update on Henry's health, saying that the squad will keep an eye on him over the next few days because his shoulder hurts.

“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.

In spite of Henry's injury, New Zealand played well against South Africa. The Kiwis easily won by 50 runs after dominating in every area. David Miller's tenacious century (100 runs) kept South Africa's hopes alive despite their struggles for the majority of the game.

New Zealand is eager to see if Henry can recuperate in time for the final, which is only a few days away. Given his propensity to win games with the ball, his absence would be a huge loss to the squad. His availability will probably be decided closer to game day.

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