New Delhi, November 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Mohammed Shami’s childhood coach Badruddin Siddiqui said he and the fast bowler’s family had repeatedly urged him not to rush into retirement from Test cricket. However, Shami decided to call time on his red-ball career after losing hope of a recall following his non-selection for the Test series against New Zealand.
Shami announced his Test retirement on Friday night, exactly 13 years after making his debut against the West Indies at Eden Gardens. He finished with 229 wickets in 64 Tests at an average of 27.71, including six five-wicket hauls. He is India’s 12th-highest wicket-taker in the format and sixth among fast bowlers.
“See, it was going on for a very long time. But I had stopped him from doing it and told him to wait a little longer. He was getting disturbed a lot for the past one year,” Siddiqui told IANS on Saturday.
He said Shami had begun to feel that a return was unlikely after missing out on the New Zealand series. The possibility of a recall had briefly appeared brighter when Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to the national T20I team, but Shami was not selected.
Siddiqui said Shami’s elder brother and other family members had also asked him to wait. He recalled advising the pacer to continue working hard, leave the rest to God and stay fit in case another opportunity came. Despite his frustration, Shami continued practising with young players whenever he visited his coach.
Shami has not represented India in any format since the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai in March 2025. His return to international cricket had come in a T20I series against England in January 2025, following a lengthy absence after surgery on his Achilles tendon and subsequent knee problems after the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Siddiqui questioned the assessment of Shami’s fitness, pointing to his performances in domestic cricket. He said the pacer had bowled 20 overs in the Ranji Trophy and continued taking four to five wickets, helping Bengal improve their performances. He also argued that experienced bowlers such as Shami and Jasprit Bumrah could help develop younger Indian pacers for demanding overseas tours.
Siddiqui believed Shami could have continued playing Test cricket for another two years, particularly on tours of England, South Africa and Australia. He said the veteran’s experience could have helped India build a stronger pool of fast bowlers.
Former India all-rounder and Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla also criticised the circumstances surrounding Shami’s retirement, holding chief selector Ajit Agarkar responsible. Shukla alleged that Agarkar had played a major role in the way the pacer’s Test career ended. His remarks also included criticism of Agarkar’s decisions involving Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Shami made an impressive start to his Test career, taking match figures of 9/118 against the West Indies on debut in Kolkata. Four of his six five-wicket hauls came in Australia and South Africa. He claimed 145 wickets in 41 Tests away from home at an average of 30.33, while taking 76 wickets at 22.1 on Indian pitches. His last Test appearance was in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval.
Shami is expected to return to action in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with Bengal scheduled to begin their campaign against Karnataka at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 14. Siddiqui expressed confidence in the pacer’s white-ball future, saying his current bowling reminded him of the early stages of his international career.
FOLLOW NOW
