AssetID: 54848471
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Ben Stokes And KL Rahul Put Aside England-India Rivalry To Take On Crazy Cricket Challenge
Caption: **VIDEO AVAILABLE: CONTACT INFO@COVERMG.COM TO RECEIVE** Ahead of the hotly anticipated England-India Test series getting underway at Headingley, Leeds, on 20 June England captain Ben Stokes and India’s KL Rahul stepped up to the crease to take on bizarre challenges. Rather than facing off on the pitch, the pair became unlikely teammates in Red Bull’s Ultimate Cricket Challenge, a bold reimagining of the game that swapped traditional matchplay for a series of inventive, high-pressure batting trials. Stokes and Rahul joined forces in a spectacle that tested batting skill, precision, and adaptability in unconventional settings - including the top of an 18-wheeler lorry to a pitch floating on a lake. Stokes said: “I had no idea what we were going to be doing – that was a nice surprise. Red Bull have this great way of adding fun and eccentricity to everything. It was cool to share the day with KL, to do something completely different and get some content together, which we rarely get to do.” Rahul began the challenge on top of a moving articulated lorry, tasked with propelling the vehicle forward over 500 metres using his batting. Next, it was Stokes’ turn – this time, on a floating pitch moored in the middle of a lake. His challenge: hit six floating targets using high, arcing strikes. The duo then entered an enclosed, escape-room-style arena, where teamwork, reflexes and quick thinking became paramount. Each room presented a unique surface and challenge, from erratic ball deliveries to shifting floors, demanding supreme concentration and rapid adaptation. In the finale – dubbed the “Final Boss” – the pair faced a flurry of mobile targets, including one suspended from a swinging drone. With targets darting laterally and time running out, Rahul and Stokes had to cover each other’s blind spots and synchronise their shots to complete the challenge. Reflecting on the experience, KL Rahul said: “With each station and each challenge, this project kept hitting me and Ben with something harder. I knew that if the pressure was on and you needed anyone in your team, it would be Ben Stokes. He made the challenges a lot easier.” Former England captain and veteran broadcaster Nasser Hussain, who witnessed the challenge firsthand, was impressed: “It was completely different. Not often you’re batting on a lake or a runway. But even in this setting, with an iconic series ahead, you could still see the competitive spirit.” Stokes and Rahul will be on opposite sides when the series begins on Friday.
Keywords: cricket,india,feature,sport,england,test series,video,photo
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