Virat Kohli to meet RCB teammate Jordan Cox in London ahead of England Test debut

Virat Kohli was spotted catching up with Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate Jordan Cox at a restaurant in London ahead of the England batsman’s much-awaited Test debut. The encounter came just a day before Cox collects his first Test cap for England against New Zealand at the Oval.

The sighting quickly caught the attention of cricket fans and many were delighted to see Kohli spending time with the youngster ahead of one of the biggest moments of his career. After sharing the dressing room during RCB’s IPL-winning campaign earlier this year, the pair seem to have maintained a close bond even after the tournament.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

Virat Kohli is enjoying some time with Jordan Cox in London

Jordan Cox makes his Test debut tomorrow. Perhaps Virat is sharing valuable advice and experience with the youngster ahead of a special day in his career.
Beautiful gesture from King Kohli.

With best wishes pic.twitter.com/AjzAI7VojQ— (@varunx18) June 16, 2026

While the details of their conversation remain unknown, fans couldn’t help but speculate that Kohli might have offered the 24-year-old some words of encouragement ahead of his special day. Few players understand the pressures of international cricket better than the former Indian captain, which makes the interaction all the more meaningful.

The meeting also highlighted Kohli’s growing presence in England, where he now spends a significant amount of time with his family. Every public appearance of the Indian batting great continues to create excitement among the fans, especially after his retirement from Test cricket.

JORDAN COX SET FOR TRIAL DEBUT

Cox was named in England’s playing eleven for the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, marking a major milestone in the batsman’s career. The Essex star will finally get the opportunity he was denied at the end of 2024 when a thumb injury sustained in training ruled him out of a potential New Zealand debut.

England made several changes to the side that ensured a 115-run victory at Lord’s. Cox and fast bowler Sonny Baker are set to make their Test debuts, while Jofra Archer and Matt Fisher have also been drafted into the playing XI.

The change was necessitated after captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were recalled on disciplinary grounds following England’s celebrations after the first Test. Meanwhile, Ollie Robinson has been ruled out with a knee injury and spinner Shoaib Bashir has been left out of the side.

Interestingly, Cox was not even part of the England squad for the opening Test. The batter spent the early summer as an unused member of RCB’s squad during their successful IPL campaign before forcing his way into contention with a double century for Essex in the County Championship.

The youngster has already attracted attention with his admiration for Kohli. During the T20 Blast, commentators spotted Cox wearing Kohli’s One8 cricket cleats, prompting jokes about whether the boots came directly from the Indian superstar. After training with Kohli for two months at RCB, Cox often spoke about the value of learning from some of the world’s best players.

WHY IS VIRAT KOHLI IN LONDON?

Kohli has increasingly made London his base in recent years, spending most of his time in England with his family while continuing to travel to India for cricket-related and business commitments.

Since leaving Test cricket, Kohli has maintained a relatively low public profile. As a result, every appearance of the former Indian captain tends to create a buzz among fans and social media users.

The latest sighting offered further insight into Kohli’s life off the field and showcased the strong relationships he continues to build with younger cricketers. For Cox, sharing a meal and conversation with one of modern cricket’s greatest players on the eve of his Test debut could be a memory of a lifetime.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

June 17, 2026 0:48 AM IST