As India prepared to face off New Zealand in the year T20 World Cup 2026 final, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan set up an interesting tactical contest that could play a decisive role in the summit clash. According to Pathan, the duel between Sanju Samson and New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry The encounter between the two sides at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8 could prove to be one of the most important battles.
With both teams aiming to capture the biggest prize in T20 cricket, the individual matches could be crucial. Pathan feels that the competition between Samson’s aggressive batting and Henry’s swing bowling could affect the early pace of the final.
Sanju Samson comes in red-hot form
Samson has been one of India’s outstanding performers in the latter stages of the tournament. The wicketkeeper-batsman was instrumental in India’s run to the final and made match-winning contributions with the bat.
In the last two matches, Samson put in excellent performances which earned him the Player of the Match award on both occasions. His aggressive approach at the top of the order provided India with quick starts and put pressure on the opposition bowlers.
In four matches in the tournament, Samson scored 232 runs at an impressive average of 77.33 while maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 201.73. His tally also included two half-centuries that highlighted the impact he had during India’s run to the final. Given his current form, Samson is expected to play another important innings when India face the Blackcaps.
Irfan Pathan highlights the key battle to watch out for in the T20 World Cup 2026 final
Despite Samson’s excellent form, Pathan pointed out that the Indian-leaning New Zealand has not had much success against the pedagogic Henry in the past.
Statistically, Samson scored 15 runs off 10 deliveries against Henry in T20 internationals while being dismissed twice by the Kiwi quick. According to Pathan, these numbers indicate a contest that could have a strong impact on the match.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan explained that the encounter between the two players could be extremely interesting, especially considering the stakes of a World Cup final.
He also suggested New Zealand’s fielding placements with Samson at the crease would be a key tactical element to watch during the match.
“Sanju has been dismissed twice by him and his numbers against Henry are not very strong. From that point of view, it will be a very interesting contest. But my main focus will be on New Zealand’s fielding. It will be interesting to see what field they set when Sanju Samson is batting,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pathan then analyzed the technical aspect of the contest, focusing specifically on Samson’s batting mechanics and Henry’s bowling style. The former Indian cricketer noted that Samson’s bat face remains slightly closed while playing his shot. According to Pathan, that technical detail could become a factor if Henry manages to navigate the new ball.
“Now the challenge here is that Sanju’s bat face gets a little bit closed. Matt Henry can use the spinner a lot. He hits the backhand with a riveting seam and brings the ball back in and that can cause problems for Sanju given his technique. Because his bat tends to get a little bit closed,” he added.
Henry is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and often bowls with a cooked seam, which can cause the ball to bounce unexpectedly after the toss. Pathan believes that Henry can use the powerful man as his main weapon against Samson. If the New Zealand pacer can get the ball away late or bring it back sharply, Samson could be under pressure early in the innings.
