More than a decade after making his Test debut against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in 2013, star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami on Friday announced his retirement from red-ball cricket.
Shami last featured for India in Tests during the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia.
Despite putting in the hard yards for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, Shami couldn’t earn a recall to the national team. Eventually, the pacer decided to call time on his Test career.
Shami brings the curtain down on his Test career with 229 wickets from 64 appearances for India.
“Safed jersey se vida le raha hoon, lekin usse judi yaadon se kabhi nahi… 🇮🇳❤️ Jab pehli baar Bharat ki Test jersey pehni thi, tab sirf ek sapna tha — apne desh ke liye kuch kar dikhane
ka..,” Shami posted on Friday night.
Shami retires as one of India’s most formidable and successful pacers of the modern era. Renowned for his impeccable upright seam position and ability to generate movement on any pitch, he was a mainstay of India’s pace attack for almost a decade.
Shami announced himself in Tests in spectacular fashion during his 2013 debut against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, claiming nine wickets in the game. He went on to record six five-fors in his career, with his best bowling figures of 6/56 coming against Australia in Perth in 2018.
Shami made valuable contributions with the bat as well, most notably an unbeaten 56 against England at Lord’s in 2021, which played a crucial role in setting up India’s memorable win.
Shami is the fifth Indian pacer to cross the 200-wicket mark in Tests. In his statement, he also expressed gratitude to BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bengal for their unwavering support throughout his career.
“BCCI aur Cricket Association of Bengal ka bhi dil se shukriya, jinhone mere talent par bharosa kiya, mujhe aage badhne ke mauke diye aur mere cricket ke safar mein ek aham bhoomika nibhayi,” Shami said.
