Follow UsWith uncertainty over New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry's availability for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg believes India can easily win the match if the pacer does not play. Henry is nursing an injured shoulder, which he suffered while taking a catch.
Henry is the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps, five of which came against India in their group-stage game in Dubai.
"The Kiwi spinners Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner are good enough to trouble Indian batters in Dubai. The only thing for New Zealand is Matt Henry. If he is not fit for the final, then India can easily win the game, but if he's there, then I am slightly leaning towards the Kiwis," Hogg told NDTV.
New Zealand captain Santner did not delve too much into Henry's availability for the final. "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," Santner said on Henry ahead of the match.
Hogg also believes Tom Latham will be key for New Zealand especially given his excellent game play against spin. "India are obviously the favourites because they have already played four games in Dubai," Hogg said.
New Zealand have a strong batting lineup, too. They have got good batters who can play spin brilliantly. They have got [Tom] Latham in the middle, who can take on left-arm spinners and Varun Chakaravarthy, the leg spinner, as well as Kuldeep, who doesn't give extra bounce. Latham can play his brilliant sweep shots and I think he is the key for New Zealand."
The two sides will clash in the final later today (March 9) in Dubai.