Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami vehemently denied the latest speculation regarding his retirement from Tests, dismissing the news as "fake news" and attacking the media for propagating unsubstantiated reports. The 34-year-old fast bowler went to Instagram to air his frustration after an internet portal carried a story that he would follow the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in retiring from the longest version of the game.
Shami shared a screenshot of the article "Mohammed Shami Retirement: After Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Indian Pacer Likely To Bid Adieu To Test Cricket" and wrote a critical message in Hindi, which approximately translates to: "Very well done, Maharaj. Count the days remaining in your own job before speaking about mine. People like you have destroyed our future. Say something good at least once. This is the worst story of the day". His reaction clearly indicated that he is not looking to retire any time soon and has his mind set on extending his Test career.
Currently representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, Shami reiterated his availability for the forthcoming five-Test tour of England beginning June 20, 2025. Although he has been battling form and fitness problems since an ankle injury after the 2023 ODI World Cup, he has just come back to international cricket, including the Champions Trophy campaign. Yet, there has been talk about his inclusion in the Test team based on inconsistent performances and fitness problems.
Shami has played 64 Test matches for India, and in those matches, he has taken 229 wickets at a batting average of 27.1, which makes him one of the older members of the Indian bowling unit. His experience is deemed valuable, particularly with the recent retirements of older players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, which have put India's Test team into a rebuilding mode.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not officially commented on his retirement rumors, but sources indicate that Shami is no longer an automatic pick for the Test side, with his selection depending on his form and fitness ahead of the England tour. Nonetheless, Shami’s strong public denial sends a clear message that he is focused on proving his fitness and form rather than stepping away from the game.
In short, Mohammed Shami strongly closed the gates on retirement talks, affirming his resolve to play Test cricket for India for the time being. His straight-talking rebuttal is proof of his discontent with misleading information in the media and his unwillingness to depart from the core of the Indian cricket team.
