Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami announced retirement from Test cricket on 6 November 2026, exactly 13 years after his Test debut. The 36 year old shared the decision in a video on Instagram. He said he will continue to play white ball cricket in domestic matches and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Is Mohammed Shami Retired and From Which Format
Yes, Mohammed Shami is retired from Test cricket only. The retirement date is 6 November 2026 and it applies to red ball internationals alone. Shami has not retired from One Day Internationals (ODIs) or Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
Shami announced the decision himself in a video message on Instagram on the anniversary of his Test debut. He said he was saying goodbye to the white jersey but not to the memories linked to it. He thanked his family, teammates, coaches, support staff, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and fans.
The format clarity matters because many readers ask if Shami is retired from international cricket. The answer is no. The table below gives his current status across formats.
| Format | Status in November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Test cricket | Retired on 6 November 2026 |
| ODI cricket | Active, available for selection |
| T20I cricket | Active, available for selection |
| Domestic white ball and IPL | Active and continuing |
Shami last played for India in the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. He has not played any international match since then. Injuries, fitness concerns and selection choices kept him out of the Test side after June 2023, which explains why he was not playing Tests in the last three years.
Who Is Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami Ahmed is an Indian right arm fast bowler known for seam movement and reverse swing. Reverse swing is the late sideways movement of an old ball in the air. Shami was born on 3 September 1990 in Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh. He was 36 years old at the time of his Test retirement.
Shami grew up in the village of Sahaspur and first trained under coach Badruddin Siddique in Moradabad. He later moved to Kolkata to find more chances. He played club cricket in the Kolkata Maidan and came under the care of Town Club official Debabrata Das. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly saw him in the nets at Eden Gardens and backed his talent.
Though Shami is from Uttar Pradesh, he plays domestic cricket for Bengal. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal in November 2010 against Assam. The Ranji Trophy is India’s main domestic first class competition. Shami continues to represent Bengal and also plays for Mohun Bagan in Bengal club cricket.
| Personal detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mohammed Shami Ahmed |
| Birth place | Amroha, Uttar Pradesh |
| Domestic team | Bengal, Ranji debut in November 2010 |
| Bowling style | Right arm fast |
| India jersey number | 11 in ODIs and T20Is |
| Major honour | Arjuna Award in 2023 |
The Arjuna Award is India’s second highest sports honour. Shami received it from the President of India on 9 January 2024 for his 2023 performances.
How Did Shami Start and Finish in Test Cricket
Shami made his Test debut on 6 November 2013 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He received Test cap number 279. The match is also remembered as part of Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell series. Rohit Sharma made his Test debut in the same game.
Shami took 4 for 71 in the first innings and 5 for 47 in the second innings. His match figures of 9 for 118 remain the best by an Indian fast bowler on Test debut. India won the match by an innings and 51 runs. His skill with an upright seam and late reverse swing stood out even on a slow pitch.
His last Test came almost ten years later. Shami last played a Test on 7 June 2023 against Australia at The Oval in London. It was the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021 to 2023. The WTC is a two year league for Test teams run by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Australia won that final. Shami did not return to the Test side after that match.
Between debut and farewell, Shami played for 13 calendar years from 2013 to 2026. Active Test appearances were spread over 2013 to 2023. He missed long periods due to knee and ankle injuries and later due to fitness and selection calls.
Mohammed Shami Test Career in Numbers
Shami finished with 229 wickets in 64 Tests at an average of 27.71. Bowling average is runs given per wicket taken. His strike rate was 50.2. Strike rate in bowling is balls bowled per wicket taken. He took six five wicket hauls. His best innings figures were 6 for 56 and his best match figures were 9 for 118.
| Test record | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 64 from 2013 to 2023 |
| Wickets | 229 |
| Average | 27.71 |
| Economy rate | 3.31 |
| Strike rate | 50.2 balls per wicket |
| Best innings | 6 for 56 |
| Best match | 9 for 118 on debut |
| Five wicket hauls | 6 |
His home record was stronger than his away record. In 21 Tests in India, Shami took 76 wickets at an average of 22.1 and a strike rate of 42.6. India never lost a home Test in which Shami played. India won 17 of those 21 Tests and drew four. He also took 35 wickets in 8 Tests in South Africa at an average of 23.22.
Shami also built a large white ball record. He took 206 wickets in 108 ODIs at an average of 24.05, with best figures of 7 for 57. That 7 for 57 against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semi final in Mumbai is the best ODI bowling by an Indian. He finished the 2023 ODI World Cup as the leading wicket taker with 24 wickets in only seven matches. He holds 55 wickets in World Cups, the most by any Indian bowler.
Why Was Shami So Effective in Test Cricket
Shami bowled with an upright seam and attacked the stumps. This method brought the bowled and leg before wicket (LBW) dismissals into play. LBW means the batter is out because the ball would have hit the stumps but hit the pads first. Nearly 45 percent of his Test dismissals were either bowled or LBW. He bowled 66 batters clean through the gate. That is 28.82 percent of his 229 wickets.
His pace stayed high with both the new ball and the old ball. With the new ball he moved it off the pitch. With the old ball he used reverse swing to bring it back late. This skill made him dangerous on flat Indian pitches that do not help fast bowlers. His home average of 22.1 shows that impact.
Shami was also a second innings specialist. Batters face more worn pitches and scoreboard pressure in the third and fourth innings of a match.
| Phase | Wickets | Average | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition first innings | 128 | 30.6 | 55.1 |
| Opposition second innings | 101 | 24.05 | 44.1 |
The gap of 6.55 in average between first and second innings is among the largest for fast bowlers with 100 plus wickets in both phases. India won 31 of the 64 Tests Shami played and drew 13.
How Does Shami Compare With Other Indian Fast Bowlers
Shami ranks close to the top of India’s fast bowling list. His 229 wickets place him behind Kapil Dev, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and Javagal Srinath among Indian fast bowlers. Kapil leads the group with 434 Test wickets. This makes Shami one of only six Indian fast bowlers to cross 200 Test wickets.
For quality, Shami scores higher. Among Indian fast bowlers with 100 or more Test wickets, only Jasprit Bumrah has a better average and strike rate than Shami. Bumrah averages 19.79 with a strike rate of 42.8. Shami averages 27.71 with a strike rate of 50.2. This places Shami second on both measures in that group.
| Bowler | Tests | Test wickets | Bowling average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kapil Dev | 131 | 434 | 29.64 |
| Zaheer Khan | 92 | 311 | 32.94 |
| Ishant Sharma | 105 | 311 | 32.40 |
| Javagal Srinath | 67 | 236 | 30.49 |
| Mohammed Shami | 64 | 229 | 27.71 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | - | More than 200 | 19.79 |
The table shows a clear point. Shami played fewer Tests than the four bowlers above him but took wickets at a lower average. His average of 27.71 was also strong for his era. When Shami debuted in 2013, only Kapil averaged under 30 among Indian fast bowlers with 50 or more wickets. Shami helped change India’s pace culture alongside Bumrah, Ishant and Umesh Yadav.
What Next for Shami After Test Retirement
Shami will continue as a white ball bowler. White ball formats are ODIs and T20s played with a limited number of overs. He will also play domestic multi day cricket only to stay fit. He said his last Test ball may have been bowled but his pride in playing for India will remain.
Shami remains part of Bengal’s domestic setup. He was named in Bengal’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy starting 14 November 2026. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is India’s domestic T20 competition run by the BCCI. He had also played for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy days before his announcement.
In the IPL, Shami plays for the Lucknow Super Giants. He was traded to Lucknow ahead of the 2026 season after playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025. He earlier won the Purple Cap in 2023 with Gujarat Titans for taking 28 wickets in 17 matches. The Purple Cap goes to the highest wicket taker in an IPL season. All ten IPL teams must finalise their retentions before 17 November ahead of the 2027 auction.
His recent white ball form keeps him in the frame. Shami took nine wickets in five matches in India’s title winning Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. He was India’s joint highest wicket taker in that event. He last played an ODI on 9 March 2025 against New Zealand and last played a T20I on 2 February 2025 against England.
Key Takeaways
- Mohammed Shami retired from Test cricket on 6 November 2026, exactly 13 years after his debut, but remains active in ODIs, T20Is and the IPL.
- Shami made his Test debut on 6 November 2013 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens with match figures of 9 for 118, the best by an Indian fast bowler on debut.
- Shami took 229 wickets in 64 Tests at an average of 27.71 and a strike rate of 50.2, with six five wicket hauls.
- India never lost a home Test with Shami in the side, winning 17 and drawing 4 of his 21 home Tests, in which he took 76 wickets at 22.1.
- Shami is India’s leading World Cup wicket taker with 55 wickets, including 24 wickets in the 2023 World Cup and best ODI figures of 7 for 57.
