Mohammed Shami has rubbished reports of his retirement, saying such news stories have ruined the “future” of players.
According to multiple reports, Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against England will hinge on his ability to bowl sustained spells. The pacer has not featured in a Test match since the World Test Championship final in June 2023. Following a long injury layoff after the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami returned to domestic red-ball cricket but was not considered for the Australia tour last year due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Though he has appeared in limited-overs formats and is currently representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2025 IPL, sources told RevSports that his selection for the England Tests will depend on whether his body is ready to handle the demands of long-format bowling.
Meanwhile, a report by One India suggested that Shami may be contemplating retirement from Test cricket, similar to senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, amid speculation that he could be dropped from the squad for the five-match series.
Mohammed Shami debunks retirement rumours
Shami responded strongly to the claim, posting a screenshot of the article on his Instagram story with a sharp message: “Very well done. Also count the days left to say ‘adieu’ to your job, then see later. People like you have ruined our future. Do say nice things sometimes, too. Today's worst story, sorry.”
Shami has played 64 Tests, picking up 229 wickets at an average of 27.1 with six five-wicket hauls.
A new-look Indian team is set to be picked for the upcoming tour after Rohit and Kohli announced their retirements in the last week. Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin had also bowed out of the format. Shubman Gill is likely to be named the next Test skipper, with Rishabh Pant set to be his deputy.
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