Mohammed Shami Announces Retirement from Test Cricket After 12-Year India Career

Interestingly, November 6 also marks the anniversary of his Test debut. Shami made his debut against the West Indies on November 6, 2013.

Announcing his decision, Shami wrote on social media platform X, "Saying goodbye to the whites, but never to the memories that come with it."

He also expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported him throughout his journey.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acknowledged his contribution in a post on X, writing, "Thank you for defining an era of Indian fast bowling. India's Test cap number 279."

Shami's Test career spanned 12 years, during which he represented India in 64 matches and claimed 229 wickets.

His retirement decision surprised some cricket followers, while several others extended their best wishes. India's bowling coach Morne Morkel also recalled the moments he had shared with Shami.

The 36-year-old fast bowler has been out of the Indian team since the 2025 Champions Trophy.

In his retirement post, Shami reflected on his journey since making his first appearance in the Indian Test jersey.

"When I first wore the Test jersey for India, I had just one dream: to do something for my country. Every wicket, every struggle, every injury and every comeback since then has taught me something," he wrote.

"Test cricket was never just a format for me; it has been an extremely special part of my life. Today, with a heavy heart and countless beautiful memories, I have decided to retire from Test cricket."

He thanked his teammates, coaches, family members and the millions of Indians who stood by him during both good and difficult times and continued to believe in him.

Shami also expressed gratitude to the BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bengal, saying they had trusted his talent, given him opportunities to progress and played an important role in his cricketing career.

"Your support and trust will always remain special to me. Although I may have bowled my last ball in Test cricket on the field already, the pride of representing India will always remain alive in my heart," he said.

Shami clarified that he would continue playing white-ball cricket.

Harsha Bhogle Calls Shami a Master of Seam and Swing

Several cricket personalities and commentators reacted to Shami's retirement, recalling his contribution to Indian cricket.

Sports commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote on X, "Just because this was inevitable doesn't make it any less emotional. Mohammed Shami bowled with the red ball in a way very few bowlers before him have managed. His relationship with the seam of a cricket ball is a story in itself."

"When there seemed to be nothing happening in the game, he would use the seam to make the ball swing inwards or deceive the batter by moving it away. He was a bowler who relied on the fundamental principles of seam and swing bowling."

"Well played, Mohammed Shami. It was a pleasure watching you. Wishing you all the best for white-ball cricket. I hope you pass on these fundamental bowling principles to the many young players who want to follow in your footsteps," Bhogle added.

Cricket journalist Vimal Kumar also shared his assessment of Shami's retirement in a post on X.

"Shami was certainly a bowler who could have taken 300 wickets in Test cricket and perhaps even reached 350. Despite being consistently overlooked in recent times, he did not give up," he wrote.

"Perhaps he thought the seam and swing-friendly conditions in New Zealand were his last hope. But when he was not selected for the Test team for that tour, making this decision must have seemed practical to him."

Vimal Kumar also recalled that in 2022, Andy Roberts had rated Shami slightly above Jasprit Bumrah because of his exceptional ability to use his wrist while bowling.

Mohammed Shami's Memorable Performances

Mohammed Shami remained one of India's most dependable fast bowlers in several major tournaments. He was particularly effective with both the new and old ball, using seam movement and swing to trouble batters. His performances in major competitions established him as a key member of India's bowling attack.

During the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia, Shami claimed 17 wickets at an average of 17.29. In India's campaign to reach the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, he took 14 wickets at an average of 13.78.

His performance in the 2023 World Cup, hosted by India, was particularly impressive. Shami finished the tournament with 24 wickets at an average of 10.70, despite not playing in the team's first four matches.

In his first six matches of the tournament, he recorded bowling figures that brought him five, four, five, two, zero and seven wickets, taking his total to 23 wickets. In the semi-final against New Zealand, he claimed seven wickets and set a new record.

His record in Test cricket was equally significant. During his first 12 years in the format, he took more than 10 wickets on 10 occasions in series consisting of three or more matches.

Across 35 Test matches played in India, South Africa and the West Indies, Shami claimed 131 wickets.

It is widely believed that his career could have produced even better numbers had repeated injuries not disrupted his progress.

One of the biggest setbacks came after his outstanding performance in the 2023 World Cup. An ankle injury kept him away from all formats of cricket for more than a year.

Shami made a strong comeback in the 2025 Champions Trophy, taking nine wickets in five matches. However, by then, he had already been out of Test cricket for more than 18 months.

With his age also approaching 35, questions had begun to emerge about the possibility of his returning to the longest format.

From Amroha's Tennis Ball Cricket to India's Test Attack

According to a BBC report published in 2023, Mohammed Shami's home is in Amroha, approximately 150 kilometres from Delhi.

Born in the quiet village of Sahaspur Alinagar in Amroha, Shami grew up playing tennis-ball cricket on uneven grounds. His early cricketing journey began in these conditions before he progressed through domestic cricket.

Although Shami comes from Uttar Pradesh, he represented Bengal in domestic cricket. Before making his international debut in an ODI against Pakistan in Delhi in January 2013, he had played 15 first-class matches and 13 List A matches.

In his first ODI, Shami bowled four maiden overs and took one wicket. India won the match.

Later that year, he made his Test debut against the West Indies. He made an immediate impact by taking nine wickets, using reverse swing at high pace with the old ball.

During India's tour of Australia the following year, he claimed 15 wickets in three matches.

His domestic performances had also played an important role in his selection. In the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season, Shami took 28 wickets in five matches. After claiming 14 wickets in his first eight domestic T20 matches, he earned a place in the Indian team.

Mohammed Shami's IPL Journey

According to ESPNcricinfo, Kolkata Knight Riders included Shami in their squad for the 2011 IPL season. However, he got his first opportunity to play for the franchise in 2013.

In 2014, he joined Delhi Daredevils. His IPL performances improved from 2019 onwards, and he went on to take more than 19 wickets in each of five consecutive seasons.

He subsequently represented Kings XI Punjab before joining Gujarat Titans.

During Gujarat Titans' title-winning debut season in 2022, Shami claimed 20 wickets. The team reached the final again the following year, with Shami finishing the season with 28 wickets.

Between 2019 and 2021, he took 58 wickets in 42 matches. However, his team failed to qualify for the playoffs during that period.

His association with Gujarat Titans in the 2022 and 2023 seasons brought individual and team success. Across these two seasons, he claimed 48 wickets in 33 matches. The team won the title once and finished as runners-up in the other season.

An ankle surgery ruled Shami out of IPL 2024. Ahead of IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for Rs 10 crore.

However, his performance for the franchise was not particularly impressive. He managed just six wickets in nine matches, recording an economy rate of 11.23 and a bowling average of 56.16.

With his Test retirement, Shami has now brought his journey in the longest format to a close. His record of 229 wickets in 64 matches, along with his performances in major international tournaments, remains a significant part of his contribution to Indian cricket. While his time in Test cricket has ended, he has confirmed that he will continue representing teams in white-ball formats.