New Delhi, March 8 (NationPress) Aakash Chopra, the former Indian cricketer, asserts that New Zealand's fast bowler Matt Henry could present a substantial challenge to India’s batsmen in the upcoming final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Chopra characterized Henry as a formidable bowler capable of troubling batsmen, irrespective of the pitch conditions.

“Matt Henry is a highly dangerous bowler who will create issues for India in the final. While he may sometimes be costly, he is one of those bowlers who can neutralize the effects of the pitch,” Chopra stated.

The former opener elaborated that Henry’s pace, variety, and proficiency in executing yorkers make him a challenging bowler to face.

“He delivers the ball swiftly and possesses the capability to bowl yorkers. Moreover, he is unpredictable. He has a potent bouncer in his toolkit, making it difficult to anticipate his deliveries. Although he doesn’t deploy the leg cutter as swiftly as Jofra Archer, he adheres to his strategies. This poses a significant challenge for the Indian batsmen,” he explained.

Focusing on Indian batsman Sanju Samson, Chopra mentioned that the wicketkeeper-batsman must exercise caution against the New Zealand pacer, especially since Henry had previously dismissed him in the Guwahati T20I.

“Sanju Samson needs to approach him with caution. He tends to settle deep in the crease with both feet, which led to his dismissal against Henry in the Guwahati T20I. Henry bowled a rapid delivery that Sanju misread, resulting in a golden duck. Matt Henry can yield results with the new ball, so Samson must remain vigilant,” Chopra noted.

Henry played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s journey to the T20 World Cup 2026 final, highlighted by a vital performance of 2/34 in the semifinal against South Africa in Kolkata, shortly after returning from paternity leave. He has consistently delivered key breakthroughs throughout the tournament, including figures of 1-19 against England and 2-3 against Sri Lanka during the Super 8s.

Chopra further remarked that if Samson capitalizes on his chances and maintains his recent form, it would become challenging for the team management to exclude him from the playing XI.

“Securing an opportunity is crucial. Without it, scoring runs becomes impossible. Initially, people thought his 24-run innings against Zimbabwe was satisfactory, but after his impressive performances against West Indies and England, they are now saying, ‘This is what we want from Sanju.’ If this is his potential, then that 24-run innings was never adequate. He is exceptionally talented. When Sanju gets going, he can be unstoppable,” he explained.

“He has multiple centuries to his name—one against Bangladesh and two against South Africa, totaling three centuries overall. However, when he is not in form, there are instances when he goes several matches without scoring, which leads to doubts about his abilities. We advocate for 'justice for Sanju,' yet luck also plays a role. Creating your own luck is sometimes necessary. He has demonstrated his capabilities; now he must take full advantage of his chances. If he does, he becomes indispensable,” he added.

Chopra praised Samson’s recent batting displays, stating that he has exhibited his potential when he finds his rhythm at the crease.

“Against the West Indies, he remained unbeaten with 97 runs, and following a dropped catch against England, he decimated the opposition. That was remarkable. This is the type of batting he is renowned for,” he concluded.

In four innings, Samson has amassed 232 runs with an impressive average of 77.33 and a strike rate exceeding 200. He recently scored 97 not out (50) against the West Indies and 89 (42) against England in the semifinals.