Mohammed Shami, one of India’s leading swing and seam bowlers, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday, concluding a 13-year career.
Shami shared the news on Instagram, holding his Test cap number 279 and a red cherry ball, marking exactly 13 years since his debut against the West Indies on November 6, 2013.
During his career, Shami featured in 64 Test matches, taking 229 wickets across 122 innings at an average of 27.71 and an economy rate of 3.30. His best bowling figures were 6 for 56, and he recorded 12 four-wicket hauls and six five-wicket hauls. He finished as India’s 12th-highest wicket-taker in Tests and holds the fourth-best bowling average among Indian bowlers with more than 200 Test wickets.
Some of Shami’s most notable bowling performances include:
- 6 for 56 against Australia, 2018: At Perth’s Optus Stadium, on a fast, bouncy pitch, Shami’s 6 for 56 in 24 overs dismantled Australia’s top and middle order, restricting them to 243 runs in reply to India’s 283. Though India were then bowled out for 140, this spell was a highlight of the tour, which saw India secure its first Test series win in Australia.
- 9 for 118 against West Indies, 2013: On his Test debut at Eden Gardens, Shami took 4 for 71 in the first innings, removing key batsmen including Marlon Samuels, Kieran Powell and Denesh Ramdin. India reached 453, helped by centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. Shami then took 5 for 47 in the second innings to skittle the West Indies for 168. Rohit Sharma was awarded Player of the Match for his 177 on debut.
- 5 for 28 against South Africa, 2018: In Johannesburg, after India scored 187, Shami dismissed a batsman in the first innings as South Africa made 194. Chasing 240, Shami took 5 for 28, including the opener Aiden Markram, to bowl out South Africa for 177, securing a memorable victory.
- 5 for 44 against South Africa, 2021: At Centurion during the first Test, Shami’s 5 for 44 helped bowl South Africa out for 197 in response to India’s 327, contributing to a 113-run win. He took an additional three wickets in the second innings as South Africa were dismissed for 191.
- 5 for 35 against South Africa, 2019: In the first Test at Visakhapatnam, Shami went wicketless in the first innings as South Africa scored 431 against India’s 502 for 7 declared. In the second innings, he took 5 for 35 to bowl South Africa out for 191 while defending a target of 395. Rohit Sharma earned Player of the Match for his innings of 176 and 127.