Mohammed Shami shuts retirement talk after India snub

Mohammed Shami may have been left out of India’s upcoming New Zealand assignment, but the veteran pacer is not ready to walk away from the game. At 36, and after more than a year outside the national team, the conversation around his future has intensified. Shami’s response, however, was simple: retirement is not on his mind.

Shami pushes back on retirement speculation

Speaking in a SportsTak video, Shami made it clear that he still feels motivated every time he wakes up for training. While selectors have continued to look elsewhere, including backing Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the tour, Shami insisted that his own mindset remains strong.

“The day I get bored waking up at 7 or 6 in the morning, I will say thank you to myself,” Shami said. “But right now, I don’t feel bored. I am getting motivated. So, according to me, I should play now.”

That line summed up the message from one of India’s most experienced fast bowlers. Even as his international future appears uncertain, Shami believes he still has enough hunger to continue competing at the highest level.

Daily routine still drives the fast bowler

Shami’s comments also underlined how much he values the rhythm of professional cricket. For him, the early-morning grind, training sessions and match preparation still carry purpose. He suggested that retirement only becomes relevant when the daily routine starts feeling like a burden.

“If you have to go to the ground at 6.30 in the morning for four or five days and you feel bored or tired, then I think it is time for you to think about retirement,” he said. “But I don’t think there is a problem with waking up at 6.30 in the morning.”

The quote offered a rare, candid look into the mindset of a seasoned bowler trying to separate selection frustration from personal motivation. For now, Shami says the love for the game remains intact.

Strong domestic form keeps the pressure on selectors

While India have moved on without him for the moment, Shami has continued to do his job in domestic cricket. He recently produced a five-wicket haul for Bengal in the first round of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season against Delhi, taking four wickets in the first innings and one in the second as Bengal won by nine wickets at Kalyani.

His form has not been limited to that match alone. In his recent domestic outings, Shami has remained a consistent wicket-taker, including a brace in the Duleep Trophy final for East Zone and another five-wicket return in the semi-finals.

Selection debate may not be over yet

Shami’s domestic numbers are the kind that keep a player in the discussion, even if national selection has gone in another direction for now. His ability to strike with the new ball and deliver across formats has long made him one of India’s most reliable seamers.

With Ajit Agarkar no longer in the chair as chief selector, the next decision-maker could view Shami’s case differently. And if the veteran keeps piling up wickets in red-ball cricket, the selectors may find it increasingly difficult to ignore him.

For now, though, Shami is focused on the present. He is not talking about retirement, not suggesting an end date, and not showing signs of slowing down. The message from the pacer is clear: as long as the motivation is there, the boots stay on.

That leaves Indian cricket with an unresolved question. Is this a temporary exclusion, or the start of a longer separation between Mohammed Shami and the national side?