The All India Tennis Association (AITA) named a six-member Indian tennis team for the Davis Cup 2024 World Group I play-off tie versus Pakistan, set to take place on February 3-4 in Islamabad.
The matches will be played on the grass courts of the Pakistan Sports Complex.
The Indian Davis Cup team will travel to Pakistan for the first time since 1964. India last played Pakistan at a neutral venue in 2019 and won 4-0.
However, the team will be without veteran Rohan Bopanna for the Islamabad tie. The 43-year-old Bopanna played his career’s final Davis Cup appearance against Morocco in September which India won 4-1.
Sumit Nagal, India’s top men’s singles player in the ATP tennis rankings at world No. 138, will not travel to Pakistan.
In Bopanna and Nagal’s absence, the onus would be on Asian Games 2023 silver medal-winning doubles pair Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni to lead India’s campaign.
Yuki Bhambri, who has been on an upward trajectory since returning to action after a long injury lay-off last year, N Sriram Balaji and Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha are also in the team with Digvijay Pratap Singh as a reserve.
The Pakistan tennis team, which qualified for the World Group I play-off with a 5-0 victory over Indonesia, will likely be led by two-time US Open doubles finalist Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi.
Former player Rohit Rajpal will continue as the non-playing captain of the Indian Davis Cup team while Zeeshan Ali will be the coach.
A total of 24 national teams will compete in World Group I play-offs. The 12 winners will progress to World Group I while the losers will drop to World Group II.
A Davis Cup tie comprises five matches – four singles and one doubles. The team which wins at least three of these matches will win the tie.
The Indian tennis team’s best performances at the Davis Cup came in 1966, 1974 and 1987, when they finished as the runners-up.
Davis Cup 2024 World Group I play-off: India tennis squad vs Pakistan
Team India: Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, N Sriram Balaji, Saketh Myneni, Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha, Digvijay Pratap Singh (reserve)
Captain: Rohit Rajpal
Coach: Zeeshan Ali
