Mohammed Siraj has always been someone who plays with his heart. And he showed that once again during the third Test at Lord’s.
After dismissing Jamie Smith, Siraj turned to the sky, raised his fingers to the number "20," and paused for a second. That gesture was his way of paying respect to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool footballer who had recently lost his life in a tragic accident.
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Why did Siraj dedicate his celebration to Diogo Jota?
On July 3, football fans were left in shock when news broke that Diogo Jota had died in a car crash in Spain. The 27-year-old Portugal forward, who also played for Liverpool, was travelling with his brother André Silva. Sadly, neither of them survived.
Jota wore the number 20 jersey, which explained Siraj’s finger signal when he looked up after the wicket.
Siraj has always had a soft spot for football. He has also been seen celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo’s "Siuuu" celebration multiple times before.
Forever number 20. ❤️
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 11, 2025
Mohammed Siraj paid tribute to Diogo Jota after taking a wicket at Lord's. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/YX1BkAxUoD
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Who was Diogo Jota and what made him special?
For those unfamiliar, Jota was one of Portugal’s finest young forwards in recent years. He made a strong mark at Liverpool, becoming one of their main attackers with his clever positioning and quick finishing.
Even at the international level, he was starting to become a regular name in the Portuguese squad. He had fans across the world and apparently, even on the cricket field. His death came as a shock to the sporting world.
What’s happening in the India vs England Test match?
Back to the action at Lord’s, where England won the toss and chose to bat first. Joe Root played a brilliant knock, scoring a century that anchored their innings. But India weren’t letting things slip easily.
MORE: Can Joe Root break Sachin Tendulkar's Test run tally?
Jasprit Bumrah was unstoppable again, picking up five wickets, etching his name on the Lord's honours board. Siraj also played his part, including that key wicket of Jamie Smith, which gave him the moment to make his tribute. England were bowled out for 387 runs by the end of their first innings.
Now, all eyes are on India’s reply with the bat, as the match remains evenly poised heading into Day 3.