ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Why Matt Henry isn't included in New Zealand playing XI for final against India

Matt Henry is the leading wicket-taker of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand got underway in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bat first, citing that the dryness of the pitch will make it slow down as the match progresses.

India are coming to this game with a perfect record in the competition, having won all four matches. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s only defeat came in their final group stage match against India on March 2 at the same venue.

The Kiwis have made one interesting change for the important fixture. Matt Henry has not been included in the playing XI.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Why Matt Henry isn’t included in New Zealand playing XI for final against India

Mitchell Santner confirmed at the toss that fast bowler Matt Henry has been left out of the playing XI due to injury and has been replaced by speedster Nathan Smith.

“Unfortunately Matt Henry has been ruled out, we’ve got Nathan Smith coming in,” said Mitchell Santner at the toss.

Henry’s exclusion is a big blow for New Zealand as he is the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 10 wickets in four games at an average of 16. He registered impressive figures of 5/42 when New Zealand faced India in the group stage match in Dubai.

Henry injured his right shoulder while taking Heinrich Klaasen’s catch in the second semi-final clash in Lahore. The speedster returned to bowl his second spell and even dismissed Kagiso Rabada, but was deemed unfit for the final.

Nathan Smith has represented New Zealand in nine matches so far, including two tests and seven ODIs. He has picked up 65 wickets in 56 List A matches at an average of 32.5. He is also a useful lower-order batsman and has scored three half-centuries in List A cricket.

IND vs NZ: Playing XI of both teams

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c), Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy.

New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith and William O’Rourke.

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