The 36-year-old finishes as the sixth-most successful fast bowler for India
Cricinfo staff
Published: Nov 6, 2026, 6:06 PM (4 hrs ago)
3:34
What made Shami so potent in the second innings?
India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has retired from Test cricket. He made his announcement on Friday via Instagram.
Shami, 36, began his Test career in November 2013 and, even on debut, it was clear how devastating he could be. With the ability to bowl wicket-to-wicket and an innate skill to keep an upright seam, he ripped through West Indies with a match haul of 9 for 118, It remains his best bowling performance that stands out even more for the reverse swing he was able to generate.
Shami played 64 Tests for India and picked up 229 wickets. That puts him just outside the top five fast bowlers in the country's history.
"In this 13-year journey, this cap, this ball, made me Mohammed Shami. All the ups and downs, I did fall, I did get hurt, I did get injured. But I stood up again for this badge," Shami said in a video he posted on his socials on the anniversary of his Test debut. "So, this 13-year journey has been very good. And my coaches, trainers, physio and whoever has contributed a little, I would like to thank all of them.
"Especially the fans. The name that the cricket fans have made, the boost they give to this name, it will always be remembered. The biggest thanks to all of you, to all the fans who had so much love for cricket and made this name reach here. So, I got this [his Test cap] on 6th November, and today is 6th November. So, let's end this 13-year journey here today. I made my debut today, and today I am taking retirement.
"I am leaving this, but I will continue to play white-ball cricket, whether it is IPL or domestic. And if it is needed for fitness, I will continue to play days cricket, but with international Test cricket. So, this was the journey so far. I started it today, and I am ending it today."
Shami's last red-ball match for India was the World Test Championship final in 2023. There were several highlights and, strangely for a seamer, most of them took place at home where the pitches weren't supposed to suit his type of bowling. He had another quirk as well - looking far more dangerous in the second innings than the first. Both may be attributed to the way he preferred to work, targeting the stumps to the extent that he actually broke Alastair Cook's in half during India's 4-0 Test series win over England in 2016. Nearly 45% of his dismissals were either bowled or lbw. India won 31 of the 64 Tests he played in and drew 13. He never lost a series at home.
Shami wraps up with an average of 27.71 and a strike rate of 50.2. In India, he averaged 22.1 and struck once every 42.6 balls. In all, only three Indian bowlers have bettered his strike rate at home. Shami hasn't played any international cricket since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Fast bowlers often have to contend with their bodies breaking down and the team management started to look beyond him.
Born in Amroha, in the western part of Uttar Pradesh, Shami left his home in search of better cricketing opportunities. He found that in Bengal for whom he made his Ranji Trophy debut in November 2010. He continues to play for them and was part of their team at their most recent match earlier this week. In the IPL, he plays for Lucknow Super Giants. All 10 franchises have until November 17 to decide which players to keep and whom to release ahead of the 2027 auction.
