Matt Henry was ruled out of the Champions Trophy final against India due to a shoulder injury sustained during the semi-final against South Africa on March 5. Nathan Smith replaced him in the New Zealand lineup. Doubts about Henry’s fitness arose after scans, but he trained with the team. However, on match day, he struggled to bowl and ultimately did not participate. Henry, New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with ten wickets, played a key role in their journey to the final, including a five-for against India earlier in the event. Smith, an allrounder, was selected to play instead.
During the New Zealand training sessions on the eve of the match, Henry bowled and fielded, which gave his team renewed hope. However, on match day morning, while he was out on the ground with the team, he threw the ball a few times, grimacing after each attempt, before walking off.
Henry, who was the leading wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy prior to the final with ten wickets, injured his shoulder while catching Heinrich Klaasen. Although he left the field, he returned to bowl two overs later in the match and was also observed diving in the field after coming back.
Mitchell Santner, the captain of New Zealand, was initially hopeful about Henry’s chances of playing shortly after the match against South Africa, and Stead had conveyed optimism as well, stating, “I guess the positive thing from our perspective is he got back out there to bowl.”