
Samira Vishwas
Tezzbuzz|09-11-2026
Delhi: Mohammed Shami has finally started the process of retiring from cricket. Just retired from test cricket. An illustrious Test career in which his bowling was praised by all and he was one of India's most successful bowlers (total 229 Test wickets). 10 special and interesting facts about his Test career which show many different aspects of him:
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1. Test debut and retirement date: His Test career began on 6 November 2013 against West Indies at Eden Gardens and he officially retired exactly 13 years later on 6 November 2026.
2. Great and memorable debut: When he joined the Test team, he was in an environment of controversy which was discussed even in politics, but in his very first Test in Kolkata, he destroyed the West Indies batting line-up and took 9 wickets for 118 runs (4/71 and 5/47) in the match. This is the 20th best bowling performance on Test debut. Never could take 10 wickets in a test. One of the few bowlers whose performance in his debut Test was the best performance of his career.
3. Who said there was lack of dedication: Those who say this may not know the story of a test. The Test played against New Zealand at Eden Gardens in September 2016 was unique. His daughter was in ICU in a hospital in Kolkata. Every day of the Test, he went straight to the hospital after the game, stayed in the hospital at night and came straight to the stadium in the morning. The team management did not let this matter be known outside. The press also had no news. Shami bowled 18 and 18.1 overs in both the innings respectively and took 3-3 wickets. India won the test.
4. Speed of the ball: Before a Test match, he was bowling in the nets during his rehabilitation at the NCA. Till then he was not completely fit and the physio had said that he had to bowl 5 overs with just a run up of two-four steps. Shami felt that it would have been better if there was a batsman in front.
Coincidentally, Smriti Mandhana was batting in the nets nearby. When the physio asked her to do so, she agreed. Smriti thought, 'How fast can someone bowl by walking 4-5 steps?' First two balls: Smriti could not play them and got beaten. Third ball: Came in and hit Smriti's thigh. After this she could not get up. Shami also stopped bowling there. Smriti herself told that it took her 15 days to get fit.
5. Biryani lovers: Everyone knows that Shami was very fond of eating biryani. India was bowling in a test. During lunch, he seemed to be in a carefree manner. When coach Ravi Shastri saw that Shami's plate was full of biryani, he got angry. Shastri thought that how will he be able to bowl after eating so much biryani? He shouted, 'Hey man, will you satisfy all your hunger here or save some for taking wickets?' Shami replied in a carefree manner, 'Yes, yes, I will eat here, I will eat there too.' Took 4 wickets after lunch.
6. They were taking wickets: Took wickets in each of his last 10 Tests. In the current Ranji Trophy ratings, he is also number 5 among 155 bowlers. So it cannot be said that red ball cricket was not in his control.
7.Could have taken wicket now: The general consensus is that there were certainly bowlers who could have taken 300 Test wickets, and perhaps even 350. Despite being constantly ignored, he did not give up. Especially New Zealand's seam and swing conditions were their last hope. When he was not selected in the Test team for this tour, he retired.
8. Who was better: Believe me, after watching Shami bowl in a Test in 2022, legendary West Indies pacer Andy Roberts rated Shami even better than Bumrah and the reason for this was his excellent 'wrist work' (use of wrist).
9. Lucky for Team India: Played a total of 64 Tests out of which 21 were played in India. India did not lose in any of these 21 Tests: 17 were won and 4 were drawn. One of those 4 players who played 20+ Tests in their country and their team did not suffer any defeat in those Tests.
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10. Consistency in Test Performance Abroad: He was one of the special factors in India's dominance outside India. Out of total 229 wickets, 153 wickets were taken in 43 Tests outside India. In this calculation, everyone makes a mistake in counting both the Tests played on neutral ground. Both these tests were also abroad.




