India pacer Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday after repeatedly missing out on selection by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors. The announcement came more than three years after his last appearance for India in the format, which was during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord’s in June 2023. Coincidentally, Shami had made his Test debut on November 6, 2013, meaning he announced his retirement from the format on the same date as his first appearance in whites.
“Let him say whatever he wants. You have seen how I bowled. Months later, he was drafted into the squad for the Champions Trophy in Dubai, where he made an immediate impact.
However, it all went downhill for Shami after the 2023 World Cup on home soil. Despite battling heel and ankle pain, he finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets from seven matches. A move to Sunrisers Hyderabad followed ahead of IPL 2025 after Gujarat Titans opted not to retain him.
Shami publicly disagreed with the selectors’ assessment after Agarkar, speaking at an event last year, said that the pacer was not yet ready for a return and remained on the road to recovery. It is all in front of your eyes,” Shami had said at the time.
