The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has unveiled its five-member squad for the crucial Davis Cup Qualifiers Round 1 tie against the Netherlands, scheduled for February in Bengaluru. The selection has brought a mix of continuity and tough choices, with an eye firmly on the future.
Selection Surprises and Omissions
The most notable change comes in the doubles combination and the reserve spot. Sriram Balaji, the 35-year-old who stepped in during the last tie, has been left out. This decision paves the way for the established pairing of Yuki Bhambri (world No. 21 in doubles) and Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli (world No. 90) to reunite. Balaji had partnered Choudary in September against Switzerland when Bhambri was injured.
In singles, the core remains unchanged from the previous victory. Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh, who powered India to a 3-1 win against Switzerland in the World Group 1 tie, will once again lead the charge. The battle for the third singles spot was closely contested. Karan Singh (world ranked 471) got the selectors' nod ahead of Aryan Shah (ranked 403) for the main squad, with Shah named as the reserve player.
Reasoning Behind the Picks
Nandan Bal, chairman of the national selection committee, explained the thought process. He stated that Nagal, Suresh, and Bhambri were automatic selections. On Suresh's position, Bal clarified, "Despite his low ranking, DK (Dhakshineswar) is clearly our No. 2. He is on par with Sumit."
Regarding the choice between Karan Singh and Aryan Shah, Bal highlighted current form and conditions. "We had to keep in mind the current form and the altitude of Bengaluru," he said. "Karan had beaten Aryan in a Challenger in Australia recently and has a bigger game." This recent head-to-head result and Singh's perceived suitability for the conditions in Bengaluru tipped the scales in his favour.
Full Squad and Captaincy
The complete Indian team for the Davis Cup Qualifier is as follows:
- Singles: Sumit Nagal, Dhakshineswar Suresh, Karan Singh
- Doubles: Yuki Bhambri, Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli
- Captain: Rohit Rajpal
- Reserve: Aryan Shah
- Standbys: Anirudh Chandrasekar, Digvijay Singh, Prajwal Dev, Arnav Paparkar
The tie against the Netherlands represents a significant opportunity for India to advance in the prestigious team competition. The team will rely on the proven singles prowess of Nagal and Suresh, complemented by one of the country's highest-ranked doubles pairings in Bhambri and Choudary, as they aim for victory on home soil in Bengaluru.
