Jordan Cox explains why he chose IPL over England Lions despite setbacks in 2026

Jordan Cox turned down County Championship opportunities to join RCB in the IPL, hoping to boost his England chances despite injuries to teammates and missed opportunities.

England Lions return with lessons learned As Jordan Cox prepares to return home, he will feature for England Lions in their one-day series against South Africa A. His first match at Grace Road will feel drastically different from his experience with RCB celebrating a trophy lift at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The England setup had emphasized County Championship form as crucial for selection before the New Zealand Test starting Thursday at Lord's. ## Championship runs could have altered his path Had Cox spent the past two months scoring heavily for Essex instead of assisting RCB, he might have been called up for the England squad. The England management had made it clear that runs in the Championship would weigh heavily in selection decisions ahead of the first Test. ## Unfortunate timing and missed chances Cox's career has faced repeated setbacks due to timing and circumstances beyond his control. Before last year’s IPL auction, he was on the verge of England squads across formats but aimed to strengthen his white-ball profile. He could not have anticipated how quickly the focus would shift to Championship performances. ## Past injuries halted Test debut hopes Eighteen months ago, Cox was set to make his Test debut in New Zealand but broke his thumb in the nets. Jacob Bethell debuted instead, and Cox missed another opportunity when he strained his side before a Test against Zimbabwe. Despite these frustrations, Cox remains close to Bethell, who has since impressed at the international level. ## Friendship and rivalry with Bethell Cox and Bethell have grown close, sharing activities like padel and watching Sacha Baron Cohen films in Bengaluru. Cox admits it was difficult watching Bethell receive the Test cap he felt was his. Cox recalls being convinced by his girlfriend, Amelia, to attend the ground on the first morning of the Christchurch Test. ## Bethell’s injury spares Cox from regret An injury to Bethell, who hurt his finger diving to save a boundary, initially threatened to open a door for Cox. With Bethell returning early, James Rew appeared set for a Lord’s debut. However, scans cleared Bethell to play, meaning Cox would not have featured this week regardless of Essex’s early-season runs. ## Defending the IPL decision Cox insists the IPL was the right choice despite the financial difference, as his RCB contract was only INR 75 lakh (around £58,500), five times less than his Welsh Fire deal in The Hundred. He argues the intangible benefits of training with elite players justified the decision. The IPL is the marquee competition in world cricket, and Cox wanted to seize the opportunity. ## Learning from cricket’s best Cox quickly connected with Virat Kohli, who shared extensive batting insights: 'He will give you every single bit of information he has in his brain to try and help you, which for me was something that I didn't expect.' Cox also trained with Phil Salt, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, to refine his game against spin. He believes his batting has improved significantly during his time in the IPL. ## Future England ambitions Cox acknowledges frustration over limited game time but feels his IPL stint provided invaluable experience. He aims to convert these intangible gains into runs over the coming weeks to force his way into England squads. His targets include the white-ball series against India in July and potentially the Test series against Pakistan after The Hundred. ## Three years on the cusp Cox reflects that he has been on the verge of England selection for three years. He hopes to return home and perform strongly to secure a spot: 'I feel like I've been on the cusp for three years. Hopefully, I'll get back and hit the ground running. That would be ideal—and then what will be will be.'