England’s ace fast bowler Jofra Archer picked KL Rahul as his toughest challenge ahead of the white-ball series between India and England. India will play three ODIs and five T20Is against the Three Lions.

Archer recalled he found it difficult to bowl at KL Rahul while playing in the Indian Premier League. Rahul has been a consistent performer in the IPL over the years and recently scored 593 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2026 while playing for the Delhi Capitals.

Jofra Archer said on Super Over YouTube Channel, “In the first few years of IPL, I found KL (Rahul) really hard to bowl at. I reckon he was in his prime then and I just felt like he could hit any ball anywhere. And he actually did.”

Archer scalped 25 wickets in 16 matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 22.36 and an economy rate of 9.31.

Meanwhile, Archer picked former New Zealand’s wicket-keeper bat BJ Watling as the toughest batter he bowled to in Test cricket.

On the other hand, former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh questioned the team management for resting KL Rahul in the third ODI against Afghanistan, which India won comprehensively by nine wickets at Chennai on Saturday.

Ganesh wrote on his X account, “KL Rahul didn’t need this rest. He’s played only 20 balls in the series. Absolutely makes zero sense #INDvAFG.”

Rahul scored a brilliant cameo of 39 runs off just 19 balls in the series opener against Afghanistan in the run chase of 195. But, he was dismissed for a golden duck in the second ODI at Lucknow.

Rahul will be next seen in action in the ODI series against England.