New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first in the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India at the Dubai International Stadium. The Black Caps, aiming for their second Champions Trophy title, chose to set a total on a surface that is expected to slow down as the match progresses.
Heartbreak for Matt Henry
New Zealand pacer Matt Henry endured a heartbreaking moment as he was ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against India due to a shoulder injury sustained in the semi-final against South Africa. The experienced fast bowler, a key figure in New Zealand’s campaign, was visibly emotional as he watched his teammates take the field at the Dubai International Stadium.
Henry, who played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s journey to the final, had been instrumental with both the new ball and in the middle overs. However, his injury meant he was forced to sit out of what could have been one of the biggest matches of his career. Cameras captured Henry’s emotions as he was visibly disappointed for missing on the final game.
Nathan Smith steps in as replacement
With Henry unavailable, New Zealand brought in young pacer Nathan Smith to fill the void. While Smith adds freshness to the Kiwi attack, Henry’s absence leaves a significant gap in terms of experience and proven match-winning ability.
Playing XI for the final
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Kyle Jamieson, Nathan Smith, Will O’Rourke.
India: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy.
Matt Henry’s absence will be surely felt by the New Zealand team, but the Kiwis will look on to give their best in the final contest against India.
