The rumours around Mohammed Shami’s Test retirement have intensified yet again. It comes after the veteran pacer was excluded from India’s red-ball squad for the two-match series against South Africa, set to take place from November 14. Shubman Gill will continue to lead the Indian side, which is currently positioned third in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings with four wins in seven games. With a home Test series against a competitive side, Shami would have gotten a perfect chance to revive his international career. However, let’s now take a look at his current performances and the possible reasons behind his exclusion.
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Impressive Ranji Trophy Season
Mohammed Shami has been a star performer for Bengal in the 2025-26 edition of the Ranji Trophy. He kicked off the tournament with superb bowling figures of 3/37 & 4/38 against Uttarakhand. His contributions helped Bengal to win the game by eight wickets. In the subsequent fixture against Gujarat, Shami finished with eight wickets, while recording figures of 3/44 and 5/38. Notably, it was his 13th first-class five-for, and he played a key role in Bengal’s 144-run victory.
Mohammed Shami starts the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season in style.
A total of 15 wickets in just 2 matches, including a fifer against Gujarat 💪
Can he make a comeback to Team India? 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/owfk93gnAb
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 28, 2025
Meanwhile, the veteran pacer registered figures of 0/76 against Tripura in his latest outing, which ended in a stalemate. With 15 wickets in three games at an exceptional average of 15.53, Mohammed Shami’s Test career was expected to be revived. But the selectors ignored him after they announced the India Test squad for South Africa series.
Why Has Mohammed Shami Been Snubbed Again?
After the squad announcement for the two-match Test series against West Indies, chief selector Ajit Agarkar hinted that the fast bowler hasn’t had enough matches under his belt to prove his fitness for the longest format. However, as per Shami, he is completely fit and ready to make an international comeback. The India test squad for South Africa has the presence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep. Bumrah and Siraj have been consistent performers in the longest format and will be a constant presence in the Indian team setup. In fact, they will again be looking to put their best foot forward to help the country win their maiden WTC title.
No Mohammed Shami for South Africa Tests! 🤯
He’s played all three Ranji Trophy games for Bengal this season, picking 15 wickets at 15.53, SR 37.2#Shami #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/rO8gYyCJ1J
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 5, 2025
Siraj is the finest bowler in the WTC 2025-27 cycle with 33 wickets, while Bumrah is third with 21 scalps. Akash Deep also impressed in the England series, registering a 10-wicket haul to drive India to a 336-run victory, which is now their biggest win (in terms of runs) on overseas soil. With three specialist pacers and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the roster, the Indian team already has four fast bowling options. The Indian soil will assist the spinners, and with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, the bowling unit is sorted to bundle out the opposition for a low score.
If it had been an away series, there would definitely have been discussions by the selectors around whether Mohammed Shami’s Test career deserves a chance or not. A long tour would have demanded a rest for Bumrah, and Shami served as the perfect replacement. But, with no series scheduled on foreign soil in the coming months, Mohammed Shami’s Test retirement has crossed everyone’s mind.
Is This the End of Mohammed Shami’s Test Career?
Mohammed Shami is a legendary bowler in his own right and commands respect from all quarters due to his impressive track record. Whether it be home or away soil, Shami has been a credible servant of the Indian team and put the opposition under pressure with his skills and hard work.
In 64 Tests, Shami has bagged 229 wickets at an average of 27.71, with best match figures of 9/118. He last took part in the WTC 2021-23, taking 45 wickets in 13 matches. Since then, his career has been disrupted due to multiple injury issues. Shami was India’s joint-highest wicket-taker (9 wickets) along with Varun Chakaravarthy in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Despite doing well, he has been completely sidelined from the squads across all formats.
If the selectors are worried about Mohammed Shami’s fitness concerns, they would have been included in the ODI squad. However, the selectors aren’t taking that route and instead are focusing on giving game time to the likes of Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna. With 2027 World Cup plans on their mind, the selectors have signaled that Shami is currently not in their scheme of things. But an impressive Vijay Hazare Trophy/ Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could turn the situation upside down, and the selectors will be forced to award him a white-ball call-up.
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If Mohammed Shami’s Test retirement is concerned, the path to making a comeback does not seem to be easy for the pacer. An extraordinary Ranji Trophy season could compel the selectors to keep him in the loop for the next Test series. However, after facing a snub from the India Test squad for South Africa series, Mohammed Shami would be disheartened to realize that his services are no longer needed for the national team. Despite having a never-say-die attitude, it feels like it will be his final full-fledged domestic season, where he would look to prove his naysayers wrong and make a sensational comeback.
