Is the legendary Indian pacer Mohammed Shami nearing the end of his career? This question has been buzzing in cricketing circles for months, especially given his absence from the national squad since March 2025. However, just before the kick-off of IPL 2026, Shami has addressed the retirement talks head-on, dismissing any immediate plans to hang up his boots.

The National Snub Mystery Despite a phenomenal domestic season for Bengal, where he scalped 38 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and 15 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Shami remains out of favor with Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee. While younger talents are being fast-tracked, the 35-year-old veteran finds himself on the sidelines, leading to intense speculation about his future in international cricket.

Shami’s Stance: Performance Over Perception In a recent interview on ‘The Shubhankar Mishra Show,’ Shami stated, “Retirement is a thought that pulls you down. I will leave cricket the day I wake up and decide I am bored with the game. Right now, I am neither bored nor lazy.” Now representing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after a trade from SRH, Shami is focused on proving his mettle in the upcoming IPL season. For him, the rhythm is back, and the fire to represent India again is still burning bright.