Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj paid a heartfelt tribute to late footballer Diogo Jota during Day 2 of the third Test against England at Lord’s on Friday, July 11. After dismissing England batter Jamie Smith, Siraj made a hand gesture showing “20” — Jota’s jersey number at Liverpool — and then looked up to the sky in an emotional moment. The gesture was captured and widely shared by the broadcaster on social media, touching the hearts of fans across sports.
Siraj finished with figures of 2 for 85 in 23.3 overs during England’s first innings. England posted a competitive total of 387, with Joe Root leading the way with 104 off 199 balls. A vital lower-order stand between Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56) added crucial runs, helping the hosts stretch their total.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout performer with the ball, taking 5 wickets for 74 runs. Young pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy also impressed by picking up two early wickets, including the key dismissals of England’s top-order.
Who Was Diogo Jota?
Diogo Jota tragically lost his life in a car accident in Spain on July 3, at the age of 28. According to Sky Sports, he was travelling with his brother at the time of the incident. The Portuguese forward began his professional football journey with Paços de Ferreira, before moving to Atlético Madrid in 2016. He made his mark at Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) from 2018 to 2020 and later joined Liverpool, where he became a fan favourite.
Jota made his Portugal national team debut in November 2019. He was part of Liverpool’s 2024–25 Premier League-winning squad, contributing six goals in the season. He also featured in Euro 2022 and 2024, and was a member of the Portugal team that won the UEFA Nations League in May 2025.
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