Jordan Cox will bat at No. 3 for England in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, replacing injured Jacob Bethell. The 25-year-old received advice from Virat Kohli before making his Test debut against New Zealand at The Oval in June. Cox and Kohli formed a relationship during IPL 2026 when both were at Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Kohli encouraged Cox to embrace the occasion and honor the sacrifices of family and friends who supported his cricket journey. "Enjoy the moment. You only get one debut. Just enjoy it and have fun," Kohli told him. Cox scored 27 and 25 in his debut at The Oval, batting at No. 7 in an England loss.
Kohli also helped Cox process disappointment after a broken thumb prevented him from debuting against New Zealand in 2024. Cox drew inspiration from Kohli's perspective on handling setbacks while maintaining intensity on the field. Cox credits the relationship as instrumental in shaping his approach to Test cricket.
