Mohammed Shami Meets CM Yogi Amid Retirement Rumours, Hits Back at Critics
Veteran Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami recently paid a courtesy visit to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his residence in Lucknow. The meeting comes at a time when Shami has been making headlines—not just for his performance on the field, but also for addressing growing speculation around his cricketing future.
Shami, 34, has come under scrutiny following a string of poor performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he managed only six wickets in nine matches at a disappointing average of 56.16. His struggle with form led to his exclusion from the playing XI, adding fuel to rumours that his days in international cricket may be numbered.
A report recently suggested that Shami’s return to the Indian Test squad for the England tour in June would depend on his ability to bowl long spells. Some even speculated he might follow the retirement path of veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
In a strong rebuttal, Shami lashed out on social media, sharing a screenshot of the article on Instagram with a fiery caption:
“Very well done. Also, start counting the days left to say ‘adieu’ to your job, then see ours later. People like you have ruined our future. Try saying nice things sometimes, too. Today’s worst story, sorry.”
Despite these setbacks, Shami has shown resilience. After recovering from a long injury layoff post the 2023 ODI World Cup, he made a successful return in domestic cricket, picking up seven wickets in a Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh. He also played a role in India’s Champions Trophy victory earlier in 2025.
Though he hasn’t bowled in whites for India since the World Test Championship Final against Australia in 2023, Shami’s career stats remain impressive: 64 Tests, 229 wickets at an average of 27.1, including six five-wicket hauls.
As the Indian team prepares for a transition phase following the retirement of senior players like Kohli, Rohit, and Ashwin, Shami’s presence and experience could be crucial. Whether he will take the field in England remains to be seen—but for now, he’s making it clear he’s not ready to be written off.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
