Revealed: Why Matt Henry is not playing today Champions Trophy final and who has replaced him?

New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry is absent from the playing XI for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final match against India. Matt Henry is not available for selection for the highly anticipated match in the tournament, and New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner revealed the reason during the toss.

Henry sustained a shoulder injury while attempting a catch during the semi-final clash against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The 33-year-old finished with bowling figures of 2/43 in seven overs. New Zealand secured a 50-run victory and booked a place in the Champions Trophy final clash.

Matt Henry Is Ruled Out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final - Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first in the summit clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday, March 9. Santner confirmed that Matt Henry is ruled out, and Nathan Smith replaced him in the playing XI.

"Unfortunately, Matt Henry is ruled out. Nathan Smith comes in," Santner said.

Nathan Smith, who replaced Henry in the final, played one match in the Champions Trophy against Pakistan. The right-arm fast bowler took two wickets for 20 runs in two overs during the match. Smith didn’t get a chance to bat in the tournament opener.

Matt Henry Has Most Wickets in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Matt Henry played a crucial role when New Zealand faced India in the group stage as he took a five-wicket haul. Henry is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, securing 10 wickets at an impressive average of 16.70.

Henry has been a key performer in international cricket across all formats in recent years. Since 2023, he has taken 136 wickets in 66 innings.

The pacer took 48 wickets in nine matches in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. He picked up 11 wickets in seven games to help New Zealand reach the semifinals in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Henry featured in one match during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he took two wickets.

Looks Like a Pretty Good Wicket - Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner said that the pitch looked good and was similar to the one used in their previous match against India. Santner also added that the conditions in Dubai were different from those in Pakistan.

"Looks like a pretty good wicket. Similar to the one where we played India a week or so ago. We want to put runs on the board and see what happens," Santner stated.

"Yeah, expect a few blue shirts in the crowd. A great atmosphere, a great ground. We are up for the challenge. It is slightly different to the surfaces we had in Pakistan. India have played extremely well and they went about their business brilliantly so far," he added.

(On different match winners in different games) It is the most pleasing thing, the guys have stepped up. You want the guys to fire from the start. We have done that and India as well."

Also read: Revealed: What will happen if India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy final 2025 gets washed out?