IND vs NZ, Champions Trophy 2025 Final: New Zealand Sweating on Matt Henry Fitness Ahead of Title Clash

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New Zealand is reportedly sweating on the fitness of pacer Matt Henry ahead of their Champions Trophy 2025 final meeting with India on Sunday (March 9) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

According to a repoort by ESPNcricinfo, Henry is doubtful for the Black Caps' next game and might miss the Champions Trophy final due to a shoulder injury sustained during the semi-final against South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday (March 5).

The tournament's leading wicket-taker injured his shoulder while taking the catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen in the last four clash and was seen struggling with a pain. However, he returned later in the match to bowl two overs and was even seen diving in the field.

Following the semi-final, Mitchell Santner had expressed optimism about Henry's availability, but head coach Gary Stead has now admitted that his fitness remains uncertain just over 48 hours before the final.

"I guess the positive thing from our perspective is he got back out there to bowl," Stead said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. "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," he added.

"[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," the head coach further noted two days before the final.

Henry has been instrumental for New Zealand, picking up ten wickets at an average of 16.70 in the tournament. Notably, five of those came in the group-stage clash against India in Dubai - the same opposition and venue for the final.

With a five-wicket haul against an unbeaten Indian side in Dubai on March 2nd, Henry surpassed the legendary Richard Hadlee to become New Zealand's eighth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. The experienced pacer went past Hadlee's tally of 158 scalps in ODIs.

If Henry is ruled out, New Zealand have Jacob Duffy as a backup. The right-arm seamer has yet to feature in the tournament but played against Pakistan in the pre-tournament tri-series, where he returned figures of 1/48 in seven overs in his only outing.

Duffy was a late inclusion to the squad as replacement for injured Lockie Ferguson, who is also been a big miss for the Black Caps in the Champions Trophy 2025. Despite missing one of their experienced quicks, New Zealand has reached the final.

Ferguson was replaced by Kyle Jamieson, who has returned to international action after a long gap, and and has struggled to make a big impression. Without Henry, New Zealand will be weak going into the final.