Following New Zealand’s 44-run loss to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, New Zealand bowler Matt Henry commented on India’s excellent adaptation to the playing conditions. He noted that India, led by Rohit Sharma, effectively utilized their prior experience at the Dubai International Stadium from earlier Group A matches.
On a slow-paced pitch, India managed to score 249/9 in their 50 overs, thanks to a 79-run innings from Shreyas Iyer and a valuable 45 runs late in the innings from Hardik Pandya. In response, Indian bowler Varun Chakaravarthy took 5 wickets for 42 runs in his second One Day International, helping to dismiss New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs.
Henry stated, “Their strategy of using four frontline spin bowlers proved to be very effective. India had the advantage of understanding the conditions well from previous games, and they capitalized on that beautifully. We anticipated their spin-heavy approach, and their bowlers performed exceptionally, demonstrating a strong understanding of the match situation and pitch conditions.”
He also lauded Chakaravarthy’s skillful bowling, which troubled the New Zealand batsmen with diverse variations. “Chakaravarthy bowled exceptionally well. He displayed great skill, effectively spinning the ball in both directions and also varying his pace. He was truly brilliant and consistently applied pressure on us.”
Despite the defeat, Henry, who himself took 5 wickets for 42 runs against India, believes New Zealand remains confident heading into their semi-final match against South Africa. “I don’t think this loss will dampen our spirits. We have played good cricket throughout the tournament. We will learn from this game, especially regarding adapting to different conditions as we move to Pakistan.”
“We have played matches in Pakistan before. We will be prepared for the semi-final. At this stage of the tournament, facing any of the top four teams presents a challenge, and each team has its strengths. Playing against South Africa, who are performing exceptionally well and have a balanced team with strong batting and a formidable bowling attack, will be exciting. Semi-finals and finals are always thrilling, especially when competing against the best teams,” he concluded.
