2026 has arrived and so has the anticipation for a year filled with cricketing activities. The next 365 days comprise multiple ICC events and all the attention will be on team India who are the preferred ones in any tour and competition.
Along with this, new players will be seen for the first time and some experienced players will say goodbye to the sport too. Hence, this article will highlight five Indian cricketers who might quit the sport in 2026.
- Mohammed Shami
Ever since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Mohammed Shami has not been up to his mark. It is more than two years since the grand fifty-over tournament, and the right-arm fast bowler has made only nine appearances for the Blue team. Curiously, seven out of these nine matches were part of the Champions Trophy 2025 tournament and two T20 internationals against England at the beginning of 2025.
The last couple of years for Shami have been filled with injuries and problems with his fitness. The most recent incident, involving the 35-year-old, saw him in conflict with BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar over differing views. Shami claimed he was fit, but the selector disagreed and has been keeping Shami out of the India squad as he is not considered match fit for the team.
Lack of playing opportunities, lack of recognition, and a hint that the team might not consider him for future options might lead Shami to finally decide to say goodbye to cricket if he faces continuous ignorance from the selectors.
- Yuzvendra Chahal
Just like Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal is an Indian player who is not considered for selection anymore. Chahal, who has played for India in two formats of the game, has not donned the Blue jersey since August 2023. The selectors have not considered the wrist spinner for Indian selection for more than two years now.
Currently, Chahal’s schedule is filled with IPL, domestic cricket in India, and County cricket; and it would be no surprise if the 35-year-old, who will turn 36 in July, chooses to hang up his boots. Moreover, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy have outstripped Chahal in the selection race.
- Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is making a lot of effort for an Indian return, but the selectors have decided that they will not be going back to cricketers who are over 30. The 37-year-old was last involved with red-ball cricket but his last game was on July 20, 2023.
Rahane is also likely to follow the path of his ex-India teammate Cheteshwar Pujara and retire in 2026. Interestingly, Pujara too long for an India comeback but surrendered his dreams in August 2025 when he retired from all formats of cricket.
- Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja’s retirement from the T20 format was a surprise to the world after he led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Currently, he is a crucial player in Test matches but uncertain in ODIs.
Jadeja’s position in ODIs has been affected since Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach and he has now become the third choice after Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. The southpaw is doing everything possible to be in the ODI World Cup 2027 squad plans.
Since Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach of India, Jadeja has been relegated to third place in the rankings of the men’s ODI, after Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. The left-handed batsman is also putting in efforts to win over the selectors and make the ODI World Cup 2027 squad.
Conversely, if the 37-year-old gets ignored for 2026, then the star all-rounder may quickly say goodbye to the fifty-over format and be only a red-ball cricketer for India.
- Suryakumar Yadav
The T20I captain of India is in a career crisis. The 35-year-old has scored only 218 runs in 19 innings with an average of 13.62. The demands for his removal from the team have started, but the news has it that selectors do not want to take any chances or experiment with the team just months before the T20 World Cup 2026.
SKY is being considered only for the one format, and with his problems, he is most likely to be flicked post T20 World Cup 2026. Having age against him and the battle with the bat, SKY could eventually decide to bid farewell to the international cricket arena in the second half of 2026.
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