Mohammed Shami Denies Retirement Rumors Ahead of England Test Series
Shami Responds to Retirement Speculations
Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has strongly refuted claims suggesting he might retire from Test cricket before the upcoming tour of England. The five-match Test series is set to commence on June 20, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expected to announce the squad, including a new Test captain, by the end of May.
Impact of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's Retirements
The Indian cricket community is still grappling with the recent retirements of two key players, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, from Test cricket. Rohit stepped down after losing the captaincy, followed by Kohli, who concluded his illustrious 14-year Test career after 123 matches. Both players were instrumental in India's batting lineup and leadership during a successful era.
Shami's Reaction to False Reports
In light of the rumors surrounding his retirement, Shami took to Instagram to criticize a journalist for spreading misinformation. He shared a screenshot of the report and advised the journalist to focus on his own career instead of speculating about Shami's future. He expressed his frustration, stating, "Very well done, Master! Start counting how many days are left in your job before taking a look at mine. Annihilated the future, at least say something good about the future sometime. It’s today’s worst story, sorry."
Shami's Test Career Highlights
Shami has been a crucial part of India's pace attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Since making his Test debut in 2013, he has become one of the team's most dependable bowlers, currently ranking as the 11th leading wicket-taker for India in Tests with 229 wickets. His impressive stats include 12 four-wicket hauls and six five-wicket hauls, boasting an average of 27.71 and an economy rate of 3.30 over 64 matches.
Concerns Over Shami's Selection for England Series
Shami's selection for the England Test series is uncertain due to his underwhelming performance in the ongoing IPL 2025, where he has taken only six wickets at an average of 56.17 and an economy rate of 11.23 across nine matches. Nevertheless, he has a solid record against England in Tests, having taken 34 wickets at an average of 42.14 in England. During the last tour in 2021-22, he claimed 13 wickets, including a four-wicket haul, with an average of 34.23 and an economy rate of 3.32 in four matches. Shami missed the previous series against England due to an ankle injury.
Future Prospects for Shami
As Shami has not played a Test match since returning to competitive cricket, having missed series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia, the selectors face a tough decision. India recently faced a whitewash against New Zealand at home and lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to Australia for the first time in a decade. It remains to be seen if the selectors will trust the experienced pacer despite his recent form and fitness issues.