Mohammed Shami retires from Test cricket
Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on 6 November 2026 in an emotional video posted to his Instagram account. The veteran pacer made the decision public in the footage and confirmed he would step away from the longest format.
Shami finished his Test career having played 64 matches for India and taken 364 wickets at an average of 27.17, including six five-wicket hauls. His final Test appearance came in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23. Notably, Shami made his Test debut on 6th November against the West Indies, and now 13 years later, he retired on the same date.
After the WTC final he suffered an injury and was completely sidelined from the Test setup. He continued to play red-ball cricket domestically and performed well with the ball; however, the selectors denied picking him, citing fitness issues. Following those repeated denials, Shami decided to bring his Test career to an end.
The Indian pace attack in which Shami featured included Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav, a combination the article describes as having troubled many teams. Shami was credited with playing a vital role in India’s success overseas in the longest format of the game.
Shami also contributed with the bat on occasion; his most notable innings came at Lord’s in 2021 against England when he scored a half-century and, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, helped India take a winning lead. That performance is highlighted in the account of his career as one of his best moments with the bat.
Posting on social media, Shami wrote: "I’m leaving behind the white jersey, but never the memories tied to it. When I first wore India’s Test jersey, I had just one dream — to do something for my country. Since then, every wicket, every struggle, every injury and every comeback has taught me something. Test cricket has been more than just a format for me; it has been an incredibly special part of my life. Today, with a heavy heart and countless beautiful memories, I am deciding to retire from Test cricket. My heartfelt thanks to every teammate, coach, family member and those millions of Indians who stood by me on this journey and kept their faith in me through both good times and difficult ones."
He also placed on record his gratitude to administrators and supporters, writing: "My heartfelt thanks also to the BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), who believed in my talent, gave me opportunities to grow and played an important role in my cricketing journey. Your support and trust will always be special to me. Even though my last Test ball on the field may have been bowled, the pride of playing for India will always live on in my heart. Thank you, Test Cricket." Safed jersey se vida le raha hoon, lekin usse judi yaadon se kabhi nahi… 🇮🇳❤️Jab pehli baar Bharat ki Test jersey pehni thi, tab sirf ek sapna tha — apne desh ke liye kuch kar dikhane ka..Uske baad har wicket, har sangharsh, har chot aur har comeback ne mujhe kuch na kuch… pic.twitter.com/hBsH0z7YQl
Shami indicated he intends to continue pursuing white-ball cricket for India, making that his stated next step after retiring from Tests. His decision follows the period in which he was overlooked for Test selection despite domestic red-ball performances and will now leave him focused on limited-overs opportunities.