Wanted to do it in last match: Siraj on tribute to late footballer Jota

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."

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