Former India coach Ravi Shastri has expressed disappointment over Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami’s decision to retire from Test cricket. He believes Shami should have been given one more opportunity before taking leave of Test cricket. Questioning the selectors’ decisions, Shastri said Shami still had the ability to take 30 to 40 Test wickets.
Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on November 6, 2026. In a 13-year Test career, he played 64 matches and took 229 wickets. His last Test match was the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.
Speaking before the second ODI between India and New Zealand, Shastri said Shami should have been given an opportunity to play in the Test team over the past 12 months. He also disagreed with the questions raised about fitness. According to Shastri, a fast bowler’s fitness should not be assessed only by his capacity in the gym, but by his ability to bowl continuously during a match.
Cited performances for Bengal
Shastri said Shami had been playing regularly for Bengal in domestic cricket and was bowling 15 to 20 overs in a match. In such a situation, he said, questioning his match fitness did not seem appropriate. He asked the selectors what more a player should do to prove his fitness.
Shami had been out of the Indian team for a long period because of injuries. He underwent ankle surgery in February 2024, and later a knee problem also affected his comeback. However, he performed strongly in domestic cricket. In the first three matches of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, he took 14 wickets.
Despite retiring from Test cricket, Shami will continue to play in limited-overs formats. Shastri believes that, on the basis of experience and form, the Indian team may need his services in the future.
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