India vs New Zealand: How can Matt Henry's absence benefit the Men in Blue?

Amid the growing voices of India enjoying an undue advantage at the ICC Champions Trophy, an actual advantage might shape up for the Men in Blue in the final. India, with a four-wicket victory over Australia, and New Zealand, with a 50-run win over South Africa, set up the final against each other. However, New Zealand's commanding victory against South Africa came with a setback. The team's primary pacer, Matt Henry, injured his shoulder while taking the catch of Kagiso Rabada in the chase. The blow looked concerning at the moment. Meanwhile, the team has not provided a concrete update on the seamer's condition, with just two days to go for the final.

Matt Henry remains doubtful for the India vs New Zealand ICC Champions Trophy final

India can see one of their major concerns about facing New Zealand in the final fading away. New Zealand presented a dominating way of winning a semi-final as they beat South Africa by 50 runs in Lahore. However, the victory didn't arrive as seamlessly as the Kiwis would have wanted. Already lacking Lockie Ferguson, another primary pacer seems to have fallen victim to an injury just ahead of the final. Matt Henry, the highest wicket-taker in the ICC Champions Trophy so far, took the catch of Kagiso Rabada in the chase at the cost of his shoulder.

The injury looked concerning, and with the Kiwis emerging with no substantial update on his condition, Henry could miss the India vs New Zealand fixture. Henry has scalped 10 wickets in 4 matches at the Champions Trophy so far. Moreover, his best in the tournament came against India. Though New Zealand lost the group stage fixture, Henry scalped a fifer against the Men in Blue in Dubai. Why Henry's absence would especially please India lies in the fact that the pacer is the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand against India among active players. In 11 ODIs against India, Henry has scalped 21 wickets, with the 5/42 in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage match registered as his best against India.

Meanwhile, the latest update on Henry's condition at this point came from New Zealand's head coach, Gary Stead. The coach expressed that the team is hopeful of a timely return of the pacer for the Champions Trophy final. While the management has run some scans to gauge the severity of his shoulder injury, doubts remain over his participation in the India vs New Zealand final in Dubai.

"I guess the positive thing from our perspective is he got back out there to bowl," said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead. "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. Still a little bit unknown at this stage," he added.