As the much-anticipated India vs England Test series kicks off, two of cricket’s biggest names — KL Rahul and Ben Stokes — came together for a rare joint interview on Times Now, on the sidelines of the ultimate cricket challenge organised by Red Bull, offering a candid insight into their preparations, mindsets, and mutual respect.

KL Rahul, returning to the Test setup , with memories of Lord’s 2021 fresh in his mind, said, “I have always loved test cricket and this England series is a big challenge, and personally, a huge opportunity to contribute in tough conditions.”

On the other side, England’s captain Ben Stokes, appeared composed but confident. “Playing vs India is always exciting. They won’t feel the home advantage this time in England.” On being asked about Jasprit Bumrah, Stokes kept his cards close to his chest and just answered with two words, “good bowler”, signifying the importance of Bumrah in this series.

Ahead of their crunch Test Series, England captain Ben Stokes and star Indian batsman KL Rahul worked together as they took on the Red Bull Ultimate Cricket Challenge, a series of extreme batting challenges designed to test their skills outside cricket’s usual field of play.

Rahul began the challenge facing up to a bowling machine atop an 18-wheel articulated truck. The Indian hitter was tasked with clearing a total distance of 500 metres from the eight deliveries he faced.

Following this, Stokes was put through his paces by Nasser Hussain while competing on a floating pitch in the middle of a lake. The England Test skipper, was challenged to showcase his 360-power hitting by landing shots on six different targets scattered across the water inside 10 minutes.

The pair then had to combine forces in the Red Bull Ultimate Cricket Challenge Escape Rooms.

Commenting on the project, KL Rahul said: “With each station and each challenge, Red Bull kept hitting me and Ben with something harder! I knew that if the pressure is on and you need anyone in the world in your team, it would be Ben Stokes, so I was happy to have him, and he made the challenges a lot easier.”

England Test captain Ben Stokes said: “I had no idea what we were going to be doing, so that was a real nice surprise! Red Bull has an amazing ability to be able to add the fun and eccentric side of what their brand is all about.

The KL Rahul–Ben Stokes interview wasn’t just a media appearance — it was a reminder of the fierce but respectful spirit that defines India-England cricket.

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