'One of India's Best': Madan Lal Hails Mohammed Shami After Test Retirement
Former cricketer Madan Lal calls Mohammed Shami one of India's best bowlers after the pacer announced his retirement from Test cricket.
The Indian cricket landscape has lost one of its most lethal weapons in the longest format. Following the announcement of Mohammed Shami Test retirement, former Indian cricketer Madan Lal has come forward to laud the pacer's extraordinary contribution to the national side, calling him one of the finest bowlers the country has ever produced.
A Legacy of Wickets and Victories
Mohammed Shami brought the curtain down on his Test career via an Instagram post on Friday night. The 36-year-old pacer leaves behind a formidable legacy, having represented India in 67 Test matches and claiming 229 wickets. His career was defined by a rare ability to generate seam movement and swing, making him a threat with both the new and the old ball. Among his achievements are six five-wicket hauls that often turned the tide of matches in India's favor.
Madan Lal's Take: 'He Deserved More'
Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal expressed his admiration for Shami's career but hinted that the timing of the retirement might be linked to a lack of opportunities. Lal suggested that Shami's statistics alone prove his excellence and that he had been a cornerstone of many Indian victories.
"Absolutely, it has been a very good career because, look, if a pacer has played 67 Test matches and taken 229 wickets, it shows that his career has been excellent, and he has also won matches for India on several occasions," Madan Lal stated.
The Struggle for a Comeback
Madan Lal pointed out that Shami had been waiting for a call-up for several months, hoping for one last opportunity to wear the national colors in Test cricket. Despite his absence from the national squad, Shami had not stopped performing; he continued to dismantle batting lineups in the Ranji Trophy.
Lal believes that the team management should have reconsidered Shami's selection over the past year. He argued that if Shami had been given the chance, his performance in domestic cricket suggested he could have continued to be an asset to the team.
The Final Decision
While the former cricketer felt Shami could have played for at least another year, he acknowledged that the decision to step away was ultimately the player's own. "He was performing well in the Ranji Trophy as well... he was thinking maybe he would get one more chance, but he hasn't gotten it yet," Lal added, concluding that regardless of the circumstances, Shami remains one of the elite bowlers in Indian history.