Matt Henry was eager to take the field for the Champions Trophy final. The New Zealand pacer had been in sensational form, claiming five wickets in the previous match against India in Dubai and emerging as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. However, an unfortunate shoulder injury sustained while taking a crucial catch in the semi-final against South Africa dashed his hopes. Despite the pain, Henry displayed immense resilience, returning to the field to bowl two more overs and continue fielding.
Yet, the injury proved too severe for him to feature in the final, a game against an opposition he had historically dominated. In 11 ODIs against India, Henry had taken 21 wickets at an impressive average of 21.00 and an economy rate of 4.48. While India’s chase in the final faced some hurdles in the middle overs, they eventually secured victory with four wickets in hand and an over to spare.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged Henry’s absence as a major setback. His replacement, Nathan Smith, bowled only two overs in the final, highlighting Henry’s importance to the team. Henry underwent a last-minute fitness test before the match but was visibly devastated upon failing it.
“He was the leading wicket-taker coming into this game, and he’s an outstanding bowler, as we’ve seen,” Santner said. “Even on surfaces that don’t appear to offer much movement, he manages to extract something. We certainly missed that today. Matty is a massive team player, and it was tough to see him so distraught.
“We told ourselves, ‘Let’s do this for him.’ To come so far and then miss the final due to injury was incredibly tough for him and the team. He did everything possible to be ready, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.”
New Zealand’s Grueling Campaign
New Zealand faced several other challenges throughout the tournament. Unlike India, who played all their matches in Dubai, the Black Caps had to shuttle between Dubai and all three venues in Pakistan, making them the only team to play at four different locations.
Rachin Ravindra, named Player of the Tournament for his stellar performance—scoring 263 runs at an average of 65.75 with a strike rate of 106.47 and taking three wickets—also suffered a head injury while attempting a catch in the preceding tri-series in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson was drafted in late as a replacement for Lockie Ferguson, who had sustained an injury in the ILT20 league.
“Tournaments like these never go perfectly, especially with such a hectic schedule,” Santner admitted. “But what stood out was how different players stepped up when given opportunities. I couldn’t be prouder of the group.
“We had players coming in and out due to injuries, yet the team adapted well. Rachin bounced back quickly after his head knock, and Kyle seamlessly slotted in, bowling brilliantly in the matches he played.”
Where the Final Was Lost
While New Zealand made errors in the field while defending their 253-run target, Santner believed their batting collapse in the first innings was the defining moment. After a flying start at 57 for no loss in 7.4 overs, New Zealand suffered a sudden setback, losing Will Young, Ravindra, and Kane Williamson in quick succession. Within five overs, they were reduced to 75 for 3, shifting the momentum in India’s favor.
India’s spinners played a pivotal role, with Varun Chakaravarthy delivering the initial breakthrough and Kuldeep Yadav striking twice within his first seven deliveries.
“We started brilliantly in the first eight overs, but India’s spinners turned the game around,” Santner reflected. “We were initially eyeing a total of around 275-280, but their bowlers executed their plans to perfection.
“Credit must go to Kuldeep for his spell right after the powerplay and to Varun for his impact inside the powerplay. Their brilliance made it difficult for us to recover.”
Despite falling short in the final, New Zealand showcased resilience throughout the tournament. While Henry’s absence was deeply felt, the team’s performance highlighted their depth and determination, setting a solid foundation for future competitions.