Matt Henry labeled ‘very dangerous’ as India prepares for T20 World Cup final
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and former India batter Aakash Chopra have put a fresh spotlight on selection calls and key matchups ahead of India’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand, with matt henry singled out as a major threat to India’s batting. As of Saturday at 11: 22 a. m. ET, Yadav has described the internal decision-making that brought Sanju Samson back into India’s playing XI, while Chopra has outlined why New Zealand’s pace bowler could create problems in the title match.
Suryakumar Yadav details Sanju Samson’s return for the New Zealand final
Yadav said Samson’s re-entry into the XI came after what he called “tough calls” made jointly by the head coach and the captain, with match-ups and team balance central to the decision. He pointed to a previous bilateral series where a top-order combination featuring Sanju Samson, Ishan and Abhishek “worked, ” which helped shape India’s thinking when Samson did not begin the tournament in the starting lineup.
Samson, described as an Indian opener, did not start India’s campaign and was later included during the Super 8 stage. Yadav credited Samson’s approach away from the spotlight, saying the batter continued to do “everything for the team” even when he was not playing, and added that Samson is now “reaping the benefits of his hard work. ”
Samson has backed that selection call with consecutive major scores in the later phase of the tournament: an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies and a match-winning 89 against England in the semifinal. In the England game, Samson was dropped on 15 by England captain Harry Brook and finished with 89 off 42 balls, including seven sixes.
Matt Henry warning from Aakash Chopra focuses on pace, yorkers, and bounce
Chopra, speaking on a cricket show, called matt henry “a very dangerous bowler” and said he is “going to cause problems for India in the final. ” Chopra said Henry can be expensive at times, but described him as a bowler who can “take the pitch out of the equation, ” citing his quick pace through the air and his ability to bowl yorkers.
Chopra also said Henry is “not predictable at all, ” and highlighted a “lethal bouncer” as part of his arsenal, warning that he cannot be lined up easily. He added that Henry “sticks to his plans, ” contrasting that approach with another bowler’s quicker use of the leg cutter, and framed that discipline as a specific challenge for India’s batters.
Chopra’s assessment turned into a direct matchup note involving Samson, saying Sanju Samson will have to play carefully against Henry. Chopra described Samson’s habit of standing deep in the crease with both feet, and connected it to a prior dismissal against Henry in a Guwahati T20I, where Chopra said Henry bowled a quick delivery that Samson could not read, resulting in a golden duck.
Sanju Samson’s surge adds stakes with Player of the Tournament nomination
Samson’s late-tournament run has not only strengthened India’s batting plans but also earned him a place on the nominations list for the Player of the Tournament award. He is the only Indian on the shortlist, alongside Will Jacks, Sahibzada Farhan, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert and Shadley van Schalkwyk.
Chopra, discussing the larger arc of Samson’s career, argued that opportunity is essential for run-scoring and said reactions to Samson’s performances have shifted sharply after his innings against the West Indies and England. He also described Samson as a batter who can go “on a roll” when he gets going, while noting that extended lean patches can lead to doubt about his ability.
For now, India heads into the final with Samson coming off a 97 not out and an 89 in the semifinal, and with Chopra flagging Henry’s new-ball potential as a specific concern for India’s top order. The next confirmed event is the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand, with the match time not stated in the available details as of Saturday at 11: 22 a. m. ET.
