AITA on Sunday announced a six-member Davis Cup team for the World Group I Play-off Tie against Pakistan in Islamabad from February 3-4. The squad, sans Sumit Nagal, will be led by Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan. This will be India’s first Davis Cup tie after veteran Rohan Bopanna decided to retire from the competition.
Meanwhile, the team includes Ramanathan, Bhambri, N Shriram Balaji, Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha, and Saketh Myneni, with Digvijay Pratap Singh, as the reserve player. While the call has not been taken yet, but it looks like Ramanathan and Poonacha will play the singles, while Bhambri, Balaji, and Myneni will feature in the doubles.
Once again, Rohit Rajpal will be the non-playing captain for the team, while Zeeshan Ali will serve as the coach. Also, the last time India travelled to Pakistan for a Davis Cup tie, was way back in 1964. They beat the hosts 4-0. The arch-rivals clashed in 2019 for the eighth time, and India won once again, 4-0.