Despite not donning the Indian blues for over a year, Mohammed Shami has firmly shut down talk about retirement, stating he has no immediate plans to retire from international cricket as he's still ‘enjoying' his cricket.
Speaking on The Shubhankar Mishra Show, the 35-year-old said: “When I get tired, I will call it a day. But I am not even thinking of retirement right now because such thoughts pull you down. If this thought crosses your mind, it means you're already tired. And if you're tired, it means you're bored."
"And I have said this earlier, too. I'll leave cricket the day I wake up and decide to get bored. So yeah, the day I feel lazy or get bored, I'll leave. But neither am I bored nor am I lazy. I am enjoying. Results are good and positive.”
Shami has not represented India since the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on March 9, 2025, and remains outside the national setup across formats.
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Meanwhile, the Lucknow Super Giants pacer has continued to dominate the domestic circuit. Shami who has represented Bengal, returned an impressive haul of 67 wickets across competitions in the 2025-26 domestic season. He grabbed 38 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches, including three five-wicket hauls and 15 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
However, the gap between his domestic output and international opportunities has been a constant point of discussion. Shami has previously blamed a lack of clarity from the selection committee regarding his omission, while chief selector Ajit Agarkar has maintained that team planning has shifted toward younger options, particularly in the shorter formats, alongside workload management for senior pacers.
The divide further widened when Shami was left out of the BCCI's central contracts list for the 2025–26 cycle, signalling a broader transition within the Indian pace unit.
A move to LSG for IPL 2026 now presents Shami with another opportunity to reassert his credentials. The veteran is coming off a lean 2025 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he managed just six wickets in nine matches. Any potential return to the national side will no doubt hinge on how his maiden season with his ‘home' IPL franchise goes.
For now, Shami's position remains unchanged, he may be out of the India XI, but he's definitely not throwing in the towel anytime soon.
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