Is Matt Henry fit to play the India vs New Zealand final? Santner updates

As New Zealand prepare to fight India for the ICC Champions Trophy, the squad harbors a significant concern. The Kiwis face the possibility of not being able to field one of their most crucial players in the India vs. New Zealand final. Matt Henry, who currently holds the title of highest wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy, injured his shoulder while fielding during the New Zealand vs. South Africa semi-final in Lahore. While it's been days since the Kiwis secured a 50-run victory in that match, there has been no concrete update on Henry's shoulder condition so far. However, from the scenes right ahead of the match, Henry looked bitter in his movements, implying at the possibility of being ruled out from the final.

Mitchell Santner updates about Matt Henry ahead of the India vs New Zealand final

New Zealand face a major concern ahead of the Champions Trophy final against India, set to take place on March 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as doubts loom over Matt Henry’s fitness. The pacer’s availability remains uncertain after he suffered a shoulder injury during the semi-final against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, disrupting the team’s preparations for the high-stakes clash. Providing an update on Henry’s condition, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner stated that the team management is closely monitoring his recovery. A final decision regarding his participation will be taken after their scheduled training session, allowing for the latest assessment of his fitness.

“We’ll be going across the road and training after this. Matt’s going to have a bowl just to see how he is. I guess we’ll make a call after that,” Santner said in the pre-match press conference.

If Henry is ruled out of the final, it would be a significant blow to New Zealand, given his strong performance against India in the group stage. The pacer had dismantled India’s batting lineup in that match, securing a five-wicket haul. Despite New Zealand falling short by 44 runs in that encounter, Henry’s impact on the Indian batters was undeniable. The fifer restricted India to a total of 249, an easily chaseable score until Varun Chakravarthy rattled the Kiwi batting order. Moreover, Matt Henry with 21 wickets in 11 fixtures is etched as the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand against India in ODIs.