How KL Rahul, Ben Stokes warmed up with Extreme Cricket challenge: Batting on moving truck & floating barge, striking targets stuck on rickshaw tops
Weeks before KL Rahul and Ben Stokes face off in the Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, the two batting talents went head to head in a spot of Extreme Cricket.
The India-England was still a month away, when Rahul and Stokes undertook a Red Bull Extreme cricket challenge that included range-hitting from a moving truck and precision striking on targets batting on a floating barge on a Mumbai lake.
The defensive abilities of both the key members of their respective sides were also tested against bowling machines, which they both named Bumrah for the variety in exploring onto the stumps. Moving targets suspended from drones and mounted on auto rickshaws (tum tuk for Stokes), completed the extreme batting challenge.
The first challenge saw Rahul batting on a glacially moving open trailer to complete an aggregate 500 metres in a limited number of chances on an empty road stretch. His maximum travelled 110 metre. Stokes's equivalent was batting from a floating barge with 6 buoys rings signalling target zones to land ball into. He managed a few as Naser Hussain provided animated commentary.
The second challenge had 4 temporary rooms constructed with balls spitting out bowling machines. Rahul's challenge was to guess 'where' from of the 4 slots the ball would emerge from, while Stokes' needed to wait and bide his time for a 'when', as the delivery suddenly fetched up.
In Room 3, Rahul was up against a pitch made of different zones – Wood plank (dead bounce), dust Bowl (slow and low), chaos mat (entirely unpredictable) and marble slab (fast kick bounce). The goal was to not get Out. While Stokes' had to bat with operatic shrieking music blared into his ear.
On the final challenge, the two took turns on an open field hitting long aiming at auto rickshaw mounted bullseye targets.
One tuk tuk driver had his glass broken by Stokes and wasn't particularly happy.
A while later, a drone carried a giant target hovering over the field and moving about.
The India-England Test with Stokes as captain and KL Rahul as batting lynchpin starts on Friday at Headingley Leeds.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
33 minutes ago
- India.com
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill Create History After 8 Years With Twin Tons On Day 1 Vs England At Headingley
In a defining statement of India's generational shift in red-ball cricket, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill carved their names into the history books with sublime centuries on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley. Double Ton After 8 Years Marking a rare feat last achieved by Indian batters in 2016, the duo became the first Indian pair in eight years to score hundreds on the opening day of a Test match. Their landmark partnership powered India to a dominant 359/3 at stumps, firmly placing the visitors in command of the series opener. The 100-run partnership between them not only frustrated England's bowlers but also reminded spectators of the calm dominance India once enjoyed under Kohli's leadership, now being redefined by a younger, fearless generation. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were the first pair to achieve the landmark. Against South Africa in Bloemfontein in 2001, Sachin made 155 runs, while batting at number six, Sehwag smacked 105. 16 years later, the pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara achieved the same feat against Sri Lanka. Jaiswal and Gill became the third Indian pair. IND Vs ENG Day 1 Highlights India ended Day 1 in commanding fashion at 359/3 at stumps, fueled by centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and Shubman Gill (127)*, plus a supportive 65* from Rishabh Pant. Headingley's surface played true after the toss, vindicating England's decision to bowl first, though the pitch is expected to wear slightly on Day 2, potentially aiding spinners later in the match. Who Takes the Lead on Day 2 India's top order has held strong, and with Gill and Pant at the crease, India could extend their lead early. England's new-ball bowlers, particularly Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, and Shoaib Bashir, must find early breakthroughs, while India's openers must stay cautious and build further dominance.
NDTV
33 minutes ago
- NDTV
Michael Vaughan Astonished By Ben Stokes' Decision To Bowl First On Dry Headingley Pitch
Former captain Michael Vaughan is astonished by England's decision to bowl first on a dry Headingley wicket, a decision that backfired as India finished at 359 for 3 on day one of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. Vaughan said the current England team's strength is definitely its batting department and not its bowling. "I am an old school traditionalist. Here at Leeds, when the sun is shining, with dry weather, you bat," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. "You look at the England side and their strength is in the batting. And there is inexperience in the bowling at the moment. Ben (Stokes) clearly had a gut feeling, and sometimes it has worked." Vaughan's surprise stems from the fact that the conditions were hot and humid with the wicket offering hardly any assistance to the bowlers. The decision backfired as skipper Shubman Gill (127 not out) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) made merry on a dry surface to power India to a commanding position. Since Stokes became captain in 2022 with Brendon McCullum as coach, England have preferred to field first. Stokes' decision might also have been influenced by the recent record at this ground, with the side fielding first in the last six Tests going on to win the match. But Vaughan differs. "You always have to pick your decisions on that moment, and not things that you did here years ago or at other times. It can't affect what the decision is today," he said. "It was a good pitch, so it's not easy to restrict runs. Ben Stokes is still positive and he will come back tomorrow saying 'let's get seven wickets'. "We won't know that for sure until we see Jasprit Bumrah bowl on it. He can bowl you out with anything. Until I see that, I will hold my judgement on how flat this pitch is," he added.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill, Jonny Bairstow's heated sledging war resurfaces
Shubman Gill of India (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) NEW DELHI: As Shubman Gill marked his captaincy debut with a brilliant unbeaten century at Headingley on Friday, an old verbal exchange between him and England's Jonny Bairstow resurfaced online, going viral across cricket circles. The clip, originally from the final Test of the 2024 India-England series in Dharamshala, captures the two batters engaging in a light-hearted yet sharp sledging battle. The moment unfolded after Gill had scored a fine century but was soon dismissed by James Anderson. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Reportedly, Gill had earlier told Anderson, who had just become the first pacer to take 700 Test wickets, that he should retire. When Bairstow came out to bat in England's second innings, he decided to revisit the conversation. Bairstow: "What did you say to Jimmy about him retiring?" Gill: "I told him he should retire." Bairstow: "And then he got you out next ball?" Gill: "So what? He can get me out after my 100." Bairstow: "100 percent." Gill: "How many hundreds do you have this series?" Bairstow: "How many have you scored, full stop?" Watch: Though the exchange ended with smirks, the scoreboard soon tilted India's way. Bairstow was dismissed just four balls later by Kuldeep Yadav, and India won the match by an innings to seal the series 4-1. Poll Who do you think performed better in the sledging exchange: Shubman Gill or Jonny Bairstow? Shubman Gill Jonny Bairstow Both were equally entertaining Neither, it was just banter Now, months later, Gill has led from the front in his first innings as India's Test captain, scoring a commanding 127 not out against England in the series opener at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal credits Shubman Gill after maiden Test ton in England: 'I love it' With Jaiswal's 101 and Pant's unbeaten 65, India finished Day 1 on 359/3, firmly in control. The resurfaced sledging video has added another layer of drama to the new series. While England, without Bairstow, look to regroup, Shubman Gill's performance, both with the bat and as leader, signals a confident new era for Indian Test cricket. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
