On Friday, Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket after 13 years with 229 wickets in 64 Test matches and an unfinished return to the Test team three years ago.
The 36-year-old made the announcement through a social media video.
According to the pacer, he will continue white-ball cricket for India and domestic leagues.
“I am bidding adieu to the white jersey, but not to the memories that I made in it,” said Shami, adding that the pride of representing India will remain alive in my heart forever.
The Indian pacer made his red-ball debut 13 years ago on 6th November 2013, against West Indies at Eden Gardens.
Mohammad Shamis’s Test career includes an average of 27.71 and six five-wicket performances.
He has 76 wickets at home in 21 matches, with an average of 22.10 and 145 outside India in 41 games, averaging 30.33.
The South African team has some of his best performances, claiming five for 28 at Johannesburg in 2018 and eight wickets at Centurion.
Shami played some fiery knocks at Lord’s in 2021 when India were in trouble on the final day of the Test match, scoring an unbeaten 56 runs while adding 89 runs with Jasprit Bumrah.
India then bowled out England for 120 and won the match by 151 runs.
Known as a Master of Seam, Shami played his last Test in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, which India lost.
He was out of the team due to his injury and came back in November 2024 with Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, reportedly still troubled by his ankle .
Shami then played in the 2025 Champions Trophy, sharing the top wicket-taker title with Varun Chakravarthy, which was his last appearance for India.
A Test recall never followed.
In May 2025, as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma left Tests, Shami rejected reports that he would be next, calling them the worst story of the day.
Five months later, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said he had no update on Shami’s fitness .
In a reply, Shami answered, “My Ranji appearances proved otherwise: If I can play four-dayers, I can also play 50-overs cricket.”
Early in the 2025-26 Ranji season, he took 20 wickets in four matches at an average of 18.60, with a best of 5/38.
Former chief selector MSK Prasad said Shami should definitely be part of the Test squad against South Africa but was not picked.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel described Shami as “a highly skilful player, a quality guy to have around in the group.”
“Shami helped me settle into the dressing room by bridging the language gap, and it was sad to see him leave Tests,” Morkel said, adding that he is still bowling a lot of overs.
Shami said he will continue in the shorter formats, subject to selection and fitness.
I will also play domestic cricket if he needs it to stay fit, he added.
The master of seam didn’t describe why he chose this moment instead, his message looks back on the struggle.
Every wicket, injury and comeback taught me something, Shami wrote.
