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🇮🇳 Trending in India · 8 November 2026

Who is Mohammed Shami? India's pace bowler who retired from Tests

On 6 November 2026, Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket through an Instagram post, and tributes followed from former players and fans. He will continue to play limited-overs cricket.
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What happened this week

Mohammed Shami, a 36-year-old Indian fast bowler, announced on Friday, 6 November 2026, that he is retiring from Test cricket, the longest form of the game. He shared the news on Instagram, exactly 13 years after he first played a Test for India. He will not wear the white jersey for India again, but he plans to keep playing white-ball cricket, which includes ODIs and T20s, along with the IPL and domestic tournaments.

Who is Mohammed Shami?

Shami was born in 1990 in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He is a fast bowler known for swinging and seaming the ball, and he became skilled at reverse swing with an older ball. He played domestic cricket for Bengal, and in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season he took 28 wickets, which earned him a place in the national set-up. He made his ODI debut in January 2013 against Pakistan.

His Test record

Shami played 64 Tests for India and took 229 wickets at an average of 27.71. His best bowling figures in a Test innings were 6 for 56, and he took five wickets in an innings six times. He was especially effective in India, where he took 76 wickets at an average of 22.1. He also reached 200 Test wickets in only his 55th Test, a quick rate for a fast bowler.

Debut and memorable matches

His Test debut came against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 2013, and he took nine wickets in that match. On India's 2018 tour of South Africa, he took 5 for 28 in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test. In the next Test at Centurion, he took eight wickets, helping India win.

His last Test and what comes next

Shami's final Test was the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in London, which India lost. Test cricket is the longest format of the game, so his retirement closes that chapter of his career. Fans can still watch him in limited-overs cricket, including the IPL, where he continues to play.

Quick points

  1. Shami retires from Test cricket

    On 6 November 2026, the 36-year-old announced his exit from the longest format. He continues in white-ball cricket.

  2. A fast bowler known for swing

    Born in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, in 1990, Shami is known for seam and swing, including reverse swing with an older ball.

  3. 229 wickets in 64 Tests

    His Test average is 27.71, with a best of 6 for 56 and six five-wicket hauls.

  4. Standout tours

    His 5 for 28 at Johannesburg in 2018 and eight wickets at Centurion stand out among his memorable Test performances.

  5. Last Test in the WTC final

    His final Test was the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, which India lost.

Quick quiz

1. On which date did Mohammed Shami make his Test debut for India?

2. How many wickets did Mohammed Shami take in 64 Test matches?

3. Where was Shami's final Test match, the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia?

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