Chahal and Shami with India team - (Source: @AFP)
2026 is here and so is the wait for a year full of cricketing action. The next 365 days features several ICC events and eyes will be on team India who are the favourites going into any tour and competition.
New faces will make their debut and a few old guns will bid adieu to the game as well. Therefore, this article will shed light on five India cricketers who might retire from the game in 2026.
1. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has not been the same since the 2023 ODI World Cup. It has been more than two years since the marquee fifty-over event, and the right-arm seamer has played just nine matches for the Men in Blue. Interestingly, seven of these matches were during the Champions Trophy 2025 and two T20Is against England in early 2025.
Shami’s last two years have been marred by injuries and fitness issues. In the latest events, the 35-year-old got into a rift with BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar over a difference in opinion. Shami declared himself fit, but the selector thought otherwise and has been excluding the right-arm seamer from the India squad.
The lack of game time, recognition, and a hint that the team might not revert to him for future options, Shami might eventually look to bid adieu to the game if he faces constant ignorance from the selectors.
2. Yuzvendra Chahal
Similar to Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal is another Indian player who is out of the scheme of things. Chahal, who has represented India in two formats, has not played for the Men in Blue since August 2023. It has been more than two years since the selectors have deemed the wrist spinner worthy of an Indian selection.
At present, Chahal is busy with IPL and domestic stints in India and County cricket, and it won’t be any surprise if the 35-year-old, who turns 36 in July, announces his retirement. Further, the likes of Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy are way ahead of Chahal in the pecking order.
3. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is pushing hard for an Indian comeback, but the selectors have made up their mind that they won’t be reverting to cricketers who are on the wrong end of their 30s. The 37-year-old was last active in red-ball plans, but his last appearance was on July 20, 2023.
Rahane is also expected to follow the footsteps of his ex-India teammate Cheteshwar Pujara and announce his retirement in 2026. Notably, Pujara too eyed an India comeback for a long time but gave up on his dreams in August 2025 when he retired from all formats of cricket.
4. Ravindra Jadeja
After lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup for India, Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game and shocked the world. At present, he is one of the key players in Tests, but doubtful in ODIs.
Since Gautam Gambhir took over as India's head coach, Jadeja has fallen behind Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the pecking order in ODIs. The southpaw is also trying his best to impress the selectors to be in plans for the ODI World Cup 2027 squad.
However, if the 37-year-old continues to be ignored in 2026, then the star all-rounder might bid adeiu to the fifty-over format and just be active in red-ball cricket for India.
5. Suryakumar Yadav
The India T20I captain is going through a tough phase in his career. The 35-year-old has amassed just 218 runs in 19 innings, averaging only 13.62. There are demands of his ouster from his team, but the reports suggested that the selectors doesn’t want to experiment with the team just months ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
SKY is only considered for one format, and given his struggle, he is likely to be shown the door post T20 World Cup 2026. Now with age not on his side and a struggle with the bat, SKY might eventually choose to retire from international cricket in the later half of 2026.
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