India fast bowler Mohammed Shami steps away from Test cricket

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami has announced his retirement from Test cricket after a long career with the national team. Shami has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy, but he confirmed he will continue playing white-ball cricket. He shared the news in an Instagram post on Friday, stating he leaves the red-ball format with a heavy heart and many memories. During his time in the longest format, Shami played 64 matches and took 229 wickets, placing him among the country's top bowlers. His final Test appearance for India came against Australia in the World Test Championship Final in 2023. In his statement, Shami thanked his teammates, coaches, family, and fans across the country for supporting him through good and difficult times. He also expressed gratitude to the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Cricket Association of Bengal for trusting his talent. Shortly after his announcement, Bengal named him in their 19-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy starting on November 14.

Context

Test cricket is the longest and oldest format of the sport, where teams play matches lasting up to five days wearing traditional white clothing. Fast bowlers often face a high physical toll in this format due to the heavy workload of bowling long spells over multiple days. Players frequently choose to retire from Test matches later in their careers to prolong their playing time in shorter white-ball formats like One Day Internationals and T20s.