England batter Jordan Cox has credited his time with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for helping him prepare for the immense pressure of international cricket.
Despite spending the IPL 2026 season on the bench as a substitute fielder, the 25-year-old Cox forged a lasting relationship with the former India captain.
Ahead of England’s upcoming Test series against Pakistan, Cox shared that the Indian stalwart remains just a text or phone call away whenever he needs reassurance or advice.
While the English youngster refused to divulge everything they discussed, he recalled the advice Kohli gave him before his Test debut against New Zealand in June this year.
The batting legend urged Cox to enjoy the occasion rather than getting bogged down by the pressure surrounding it.
"I probably don't want to share all of them, but I just wanted to ask him a few questions. He was saying: 'Enjoy the moment. You only get one debut. Just enjoy it and have fun'," Cox told BBC Sport.
Kohli emphasized reflecting on the sacrifices made by family and friends, using that gratitude as fuel to perform and make them proud.
“Family and friends, everything they have worked hard for, every time they have come to a game to support you, show them something why they have done all that sacrifice for you,” he added.
Jordan Cox will bat at No. 3 for England in the first two matches of the three-Test series against Pakistan, replacing the injured Jacob Bethell. He will once again look to lean on the guidance he received from his veteran RCB teammate.
"I'll keep it forever, I think. He's someone that I've looked up to and I've managed to spend what felt like four months with him in India. He's someone that I'll text if I'm ever feeling down or need a bit of help. He's always at the end of the phone," he remarked.
Cox also sought advice from Viat Kohli after a freak injury ruled him out days before his scheduled Test debut for England in New Zealand in late 2024. The conversation with Kohli helped him put the setback into perspective.
"I was three days away from playing my first Test and then got injured, which was just unlucky, a freak incident," said Cox. "There were definitely thoughts of 'I'm never going to play again'. I had that Test cap right there, then I couldn't get it. It felt like that was the end, as bad as that sounds. I remember talking to Virat about it. He said: 'There are billions of people who don't even know who I am. The sun will come up in the morning - I don't really care'.
"Obviously he cares when he goes out on to the field of play, because he's crazy on the field. When he comes off the field, he's one of the nicest guys you'll meet. It's about how I can be like that. How can I be really aggressive on the field, then when I come off everyone says 'He's a great bloke'?" he stated.
