Shami's Test exit: Laxmi Ratan Shukla 'wanted him to retire in national colours'
Synopsis
Laxmi Ratan Shukla's tribute to Mohammed Shami cuts to the heart of a quiet disappointment: one of India's finest fast bowlers never got the farewell he deserved in Test whites. With 229 wickets and a last Test appearance back in 2023, Shami exits on his own terms — still hungry enough for domestic cricket to keep playing Ranji Trophy, now coaching under the same man who gave him his first big break.
Key Takeaways
Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday, 7 November 2025 .
He finishes with 229 wickets in 64 Tests , including six five-wicket hauls — India's sixth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in the format.
Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla said he had wished Shami could have made a Test comeback and retired in national colours .
Shami's last Test was the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia ; he never returned to the format after that.
Shami remains active in white-ball cricket and is part of Bengal's squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy beginning 14 November .
His Bengal association spans both ends of his red-ball career — he graduated from the state's Under-23 setup and played domestic cricket for Bengal until his Test retirement.
Mohammed Shami's retirement from Test cricket on Friday, 7 November 2025, has drawn an emotional response from his Bengal coach, with Laxmi Ratan Shukla saying he and many others had hoped the senior pacer would return to the Indian Test side and sign off in national colours — a wish that fate, he said, did not grant.
Shukla's Tribute to Shami
In a heartfelt video posted on his Instagram account, Shukla — a former India all-rounder and the current head coach of Bengal's senior men's team — said, 'We all wanted you to have a comeback in the Test team and retire from there. But God did not accept it. Despite that, you are the best.' He praised Shami's commitment to domestic cricket even after a decorated international career, adding: 'I have not seen a fast bowler working so hard for domestic cricket games after playing so many international matches and taking many wickets in Tests, One-days and T20s.'
A Career in Numbers
Shami retires from red-ball cricket with 229 wickets from 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls, making him India's sixth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in the format. His record underlines his effectiveness across conditions: he claimed 145 wickets in 41 away Tests at an average of 30.33, and was even more lethal at home, taking 76 wickets at an average of 22.1. His final Test appearance came in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia, after which he never returned to the longest format for India.
The Bengal Connection
Shukla recalled the early days of Shami's career with particular fondness, noting that the pacer made a direct leap from Bengal's Under-23 setup to the Ranji Trophy — with Shukla himself serving as captain at the time. 'You started with us in the red ball and now your Test match career ended with us,' Shukla said. 'What you have done for Bengal is amazing. Mohammed Shami is and will always be a great inspiration.' The sentiment captures how Shami's red-ball journey, which eventually took him to the pinnacle of international cricket, began and effectively concluded within the Bengal fold — lending a full-circle quality to his retirement.
White-Ball Career Continues
Shami's retirement is confined to the Test format; he remains active in white-ball cricket. He has been named in Bengal's 19-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which commences on 14 November. Bengal open their campaign against Karnataka in an Elite Group A fixture at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on that date. The group also features Chandigarh, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, with all league matches to be played in Mumbai. Shami's continued availability in limited-overs cricket ensures he is not yet done with the domestic scene — and potentially the Indian white-ball setup as well.
Point of View
Yet was never recalled even for a ceremonial send-off series. Shukla's tribute, sincere as it is, also inadvertently highlights a systemic question: why was a bowler of Shami's calibre, still active and effective in domestic cricket, not afforded a final Test appearance? The selectors owe Indian cricket fans — and Shami himself — a clearer answer.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wickets did Mohammed Shami take in Test cricket?
Mohammed Shami retired from Test cricket with 229 wickets from 64 matches, including six five-wicket hauls, making him India's sixth-highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in the format.
When did Mohammed Shami last play a Test match?
Shami's final Test appearance was in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final against Australia. He did not play another Test for India after that match.
What did Laxmi Ratan Shukla say about Shami's retirement?
Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla said in an Instagram video that he and many others had hoped Shami would return to the Indian Test side and retire in national colours. He said, 'God did not accept it,' and praised Shami's dedication to domestic cricket despite a decorated international career.
Will Mohammed Shami continue playing cricket after Test retirement?
Yes, Shami has retired only from Test cricket. He has been included in Bengal's 19-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy beginning 14 November 2025, and continues to be available for white-ball cricket.
What is Shami's connection to Bengal cricket?
Shami began his red-ball career with Bengal, graduating directly from the state's Under-23 setup to the Ranji Trophy. Coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla was Bengal's captain at the time and noted that Shami's Test career both started and ended with the Bengal association.
