Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami has stepped away from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on his long-format career. Shami shared the news of his retirement with his fans through an emotional message posted on his social media account. This announcement on November 6 marks the end of a 13-year journey in the purest format of the game for the veteran Indian fast bowler. Over the course of his career, Shami represented India in 64 Test matches, claiming a total of 229 wickets.
A Unique Date Coincidence
Shami began his Test journey back in 2013 when he made his debut against the West Indies at the iconic Eden Gardens. Interestingly, the date of his debut match was also November 6, and he chose the exact same date to announce his retirement from Test cricket. In this manner, Shami concluded his red-ball journey on the very same calendar date that it had started years ago.
A Memorable Debut Performance
Mohammed Shami's entry into Test cricket for Team India was nothing short of spectacular. In his debut match against the West Indies, the pacer wreaked havoc by taking a total of 9 wickets across both innings. In the first innings, he bowled 17 overs, conceded 71 runs, and picked up 4 wickets. He followed it up in the second innings by giving away 47 runs in 13.1 overs to claim a five-wicket haul, leaving a massive impact right from his first game.
The Final Match and Injury Setback
Even in the final match of his career, Shami delivered with the ball. He had been away from India's Test setup for the last 3 years, with his final appearance coming at The Oval against Australia in the World Test Championship final. In that summit clash, he once again impressed with his bowling, picking up 4 wickets across the two innings. However, an injury sidelined him after that encounter, and he was never able to make a comeback to the side, ultimately bidding adieu to Test cricket without a formal farewell.
