Mohammed Shami has announced his retirement from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on a 13-year international career in which the India pacer played 64 Tests and claimed 229 wickets. The 36-year-old from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, made the announcement on 7 November 2026 through a video posted on his Instagram handle, saying he was bidding goodbye to the whites but not to the memories the format had given him.

A Career in Numbers

Shami made his Test debut on 6 November 2013 against West Indies and last pulled on the whites in June 2023 against Australia — a span of nearly a decade in the format. His 229 wickets included five-wicket hauls on five occasions, with his career-best figures of 6/56 coming against Australia at Perth in December 2018, widely regarded as one of the finest bowling performances by an Indian pacer on Australian soil. At the domestic level, he represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and the East Zone in zonal cricket.

Shami's Own Words

In a heartfelt video post, Shami expressed deep gratitude to everyone who shaped his journey. 'Hello everyone, I have come to share a very important message with you. It relates to me — to my personal journey,' he said, before thanking the Almighty, his family, friends, and support staff.

He reflected on the hardships of his 13-year road: 'I have worked incredibly hard and experienced many ups and downs. And now, today — on the 9th of November — I have reached this milestone. After overcoming so many challenges, these thirteen years have finally been completed.' He also paid tribute to his coaches, strength trainers, and physiotherapists: 'To those who have contributed even a little, I would like to thank them — thank you, so, so, so, so much!'

Injuries and the Road to Retirement

Shami's later career was blighted by persistent injuries that kept him out of the Indian squad across all formats. With his last Test appearance dating back to June 2023 and his prospects of a return to the longest format increasingly slim, the retirement announcement was widely anticipated within Indian cricket circles. His exit marks the end of a cycle for Indian pace bowling, a department that Shami helped elevate to world-class standards alongside Jasprit Bumrah and other fast-bowling contemporaries.

Legacy and What Comes Next

Shami's retirement from Tests does not necessarily signal the end of all cricket — he notably did not retire from limited-overs formats, leaving the door open for a potential return to white-ball cricket. His contributions to India's pace attack over 13 years — particularly in overseas conditions — cemented his place as one of the most skilled swing and seam bowlers the country has produced. This comes amid a broader generational transition in Indian fast bowling, with younger seamers stepping up to fill vacancies in the Test side.