• Source:JND
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The illustrious former captain of New Zealand, Kane Williamson, lavished praise on star pacer Mohammed Siraj's unshakeable commitment to putting the team ahead of individual ambitions, highlighting his leadership abilities that distinguish him from his peers.

With Jasprit Bumrah's workload being carefully managed in the five-Test match England tour, Siraj stepped up to shoulder the charge of spearheading the pace attack with his impressive performances.

Siraj's climactic contributions have been a hallmark of India's recent successes, as his recent four-wicket haul in the Ahmedabad Test against the West Indies set up a comprehensive innings-and-140-run victory.

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"I got to know him early in his career before he represented India, observing his talent as a young cricketer for Sunrisers in the IPL," Williamson told the media during the CEAT Cricket Awards here.

"What sets him apart is his relentless commitment to putting the team first and his desire to take the ball, even when the game might not be moving. He always wants to be the player who changes the game by bowling long spells, and this attitude is contagious within the team, demonstrating strong leadership qualities," he added.

Williamson said Shubman Gill, who was appointed India's ODI captain last week after being handed the Test reins before the England tour, will have to be ready for "ups and downs" of the job.

"Leadership demands a lot of energy and clear focus on where you dedicate your time, not just as captain but in the various roles that come with leadership," he said.

"Naturally, you can't take on everything indefinitely; there's a timeframe for doing the job before passing the baton. I experienced that with New Zealand, whether over five or ten years, people take on that responsibility and then it's about transition and the next phase," Williamson added.

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"Shubman has excellent leadership qualities, and I'm sure he's eager to contribute and make a big impact on Indian cricket. We witnessed an impressive Test series in England at the start of his captaincy, which was a huge challenge with a young team in tough conditions," said the former Kiwi captain.