Updated On: 13 July, 2025 06:11 AM IST | London | PTI
Siraj indicated ‘20’ — Jota’s jersey number at Liverpool — with his fingers

India’s Mohammed Siraj pays tribute to Diogo Jota after dismissing England’s Jamie Smith at Lord’s on Friday. Pic/Getty Images
India pacer Mohammed Siraj has said he felt really emotional on hearing the news about Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota’s death in a car accident, and his gesture after taking the wicket of Jamie Smith on Day Two of the third Test against England here was a tribute to the Portuguese forward.
Siraj indicated ‘20’ — Jota’s jersey number at Liverpool — with his fingers. He then raised both hands skywards for the footballer, who along with his brother Andre Silva died in a mishap in Spain on July 3. “We got to know during the last match [in Birmingham] that Diogo Jota has died in an accident,” Siraj said in a video posted by BCCI.
“Because I am a Portugal fan, and because CR7 [Cristiano Ronaldo] plays for that team, I felt emotional. I wanted to do it [pay my tribute] in the last match itself.”