Home
Former Australia left-arm chinaman bowler Bradd Hogg reckons India can beat New Zealand easily in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final if in-form pacer Matt Henry is unavailable for selection due to shoulder injury. Henry, who claimed a fifer in the group stage clash against India, injured his shoulder trying to take a catch against South Africa in the semifinal clash at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. While Hogg believes Kiwi spinners Michael Bracewell, captain Mitchell Santner are capable of troubling Indian batters in spin-friendly Dubai conditions, Henry's availability is crucial for the BlackCaps.
"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.
On the eve of the final, Santner did not confirm whether Henry will play on March 9 or not.
"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 in the pre-match press conference.
Henry is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 10 wickets at an average of 16.70.
Hogg labels Latham a threat for India
Hogg also labelled wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham a threat for his ability to tackle the spinners, especially the in-form Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.
"India are obviously the favourites because they have already played four games in Dubai. But 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," Hogg said.
In the previous clash, Latham was dismissed lbw by Ravindra Jadeja. He scored 14 runs from 20 balls. For India, Chakravarthy picked a fifer on his Champions Trophy debut whereas Kuldeep struck twice.
IND vs NZ Champions Trophy 2025 Final LIVE: Click Here for Instant Updates and Scores!
