Jordan Cox, who is making his Test debut for England, is now more at ease to make his debut thanks to the advice of Virat Kohli. England and India great Virat Kohli has given Jordan Cox a pep talk before he takes to the field in his Test debut.
Cox shared his dressing room with Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 while playing with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and he revealed the advice. The duo struck a rapport during the game, and Cox was able to take advice from one of the most experienced batters in international cricket.
Cox met Kohli in London prior to his selection in England’s Test match squad for New Zealand at The Oval in June. In their chat, Kohli gave a simple message on dealing with the pressure that comes with a debut in the first Test.
The piece of advice was especially important for Cox, as he got ready to step up from domestic and franchise cricket to the top-flight level of international cricket.
First time testing can be stressful especially for a player that is going into a side of England with high expectations. Kohli’s words took credibility from his experience of playing for over a decade in international cricket.
Cox’s relationship with Kohli also shows that how franchise cricket can establish a bond between players of two international teams. They had the chance to learn from someone who has played in a lot of high-pressure games and big tournaments for England.
The wicketkeeper-batter then made his debut for England at the Oval, in the fifth and final Test against New Zealand, marking the start of a new career path in his international career.
The message Kohli passed on was simple while the revelation by Cox indicates that senior players can make a huge difference to the younger cricketers. The England batsman is now given a chance to prove himself in the Test arena and make a strong start.
