Updated 8 March 2025 at 23:33 IST
Matt Henry To Miss Champions Trophy 2025 Final? New Zealand Captain Mitchell Santner Shares Massive Fitness Update
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has offered a fitness update on Henry. Henry hurt his shoulder in the last game and also missed practice sessions.
- SportFit
- 2 min read
Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 final, New Zealand are still sweating over the fitness of pacer Matt Henry. The New Zealand fast bowler hurt his shoulder and was missing from practice sessions, raising a doubt over his availability in this crucial game.
Mitchell Santner Offers Matt Henry Injury Update
Ahead of the much-anticipated fixture, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner has now provided a fitness update. The left-arm spinner couldn't confirm the presence of his star bowler but has insisted Henry will undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he will be match fit or not. As quoted by PTI he said, “So we'll be going across the road and training after this. And Matt's going to have a bowl just to see how he is. Yeah and then I guess we'll make a call after that."
If Henry fails to make it, 30-year-old Jacob Duffy is expected to fill in his absence.
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Mitchell Santner hails Quality Of Varun Chakaravarthy
India inflicted a dominating defeat on the Kiwis in the group stage and will be adamant to repeat their heroics. Varun Chakaravarthy took a five-wicket haul to wreak havoc in the New Zealand batting lineup and Santner said it will be a challenge to face all the Indian spinners on this Dubai surface.
“I think guys will be better for the run against Varun. He's obviously a world-class bowler--we've seen it here and obviously in the IPL and that little bit of mystery. But it was the first time some of the guys have been facing him. I think they'll learn from the other day. If the pitch plays a similar way, it's going to be a challenge along with all three of their other spinners.”
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Varun replaced Harshit Rana in the playing XI against the Kiwis and since then has been a constant in the team. Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir are unlikely to tweak to the winning combination and the Men In Blue are expected to field the same starting XI in this high-voltage clash.
Published By : Anirban Sarkar
Published On: 8 March 2025 at 23:33 IST