New Zealand pacer Matt Henry was left dejected after being ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final match against India. The fast bowler, who had been in stellar form throughout the tournament, failed to recover from a shoulder injury he sustained during the semi-final against South Africa.
Henry, who was the leading wicket-taker with ten scalps before the final, suffered a shoulder injury while attempting a catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen during the semi-final against South Africa in Lahore. He left the field due to discomfort but returned to bowl two overs and was seen diving in the field.
Nathan Smith Replaces Matt Henry for Champions Trophy Final
Henry finished the semi-final with figures of 2/43 from seven overs. He picked up the wickets of Ryan Rickelton and Kagiso Rabada. However, the 33-year-old failed to recover in time for the final against India, which is currently taking place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9.
With Henry ruled out, New Zealand picked Nathan Smith as his replacement for the final. Smith had played one match in the tournament against Pakistan, where he took two wickets for 20 runs in two overs. The right-arm pacer has played seven ODIs, picking up as many wickets at an average of 41.71.
Heartbroken Matt Henry in Tears After Missing Champions Trophy Final
Ahead of the final, Matt Henry was visibly emotional, as he had to miss the crucial match due to injury. The pacer was seen leaving the field before the toss. He tried hard not to cry after failing the match fitness test.
New Zealand likely opted not to risk him for the high-stakes contest. Moments before the toss, head coach Gary Stead consoled Henry by patting him on the back.
You can watch the video of the incident below:
BREAKING: Matt Henry is OUT of the ICC Champions Trophy final with a shoulder injury 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qmBvTmVsiD
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 9, 2025
New Zealand won the toss in the final and chose to bat first. At the time of writing, the Black Caps were 165/5 after 38 overs, with Daryl Mitchell (44) and Michael Bracewell (0) at the crease. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed one.
Matt Henry Tops Bowling Charts in International Cricket Since 2023
Matt Henry has been the most successful bowler in international cricket in recent years. The right-arm pacer has taken 136 wickets in 66 innings across formats since 2023. He is ahead of Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has taken 125 wickets in 74 innings during the same period.
Henry was instrumental in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, picking up 48 wickets in nine matches. However, the Black Caps failed to advance to the final of the WTC 2023-25 cycle.
He also played a key role in New Zealand’s 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, where they lost in the semi-finals to India. He finished with 11 wickets in seven games as the Kiwis reached the semifinals. The bowler played a solitary match in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he picked up two wickets.
Also read: Revealed: Why Matt Henry is not playing today Champions Trophy final and who has replaced him?
