New Delhi: India’s Davis Cup campaign gets a shot of experience and renewed energy as Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri make their much-anticipated return to the national squad. The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Friday announced an eight-member team for the upcoming World Group I first-round tie against Switzerland, scheduled to be held indoors in Biel from September 12.
Nagal, India’s top-ranked singles player (currently ranked 306), is back in the squad after a two-year hiatus, with his last appearance being the 4-1 win against Morocco in Lucknow in September 2023, where he clinched both singles matches. He missed the subsequent ties against Sweden, Togo, and notably did not travel to Pakistan for the historic February 2024 clash.
Yuki Bhambri, India’s highest-ranked doubles player (ranked 35), also makes a return after sitting out two ties. His last Davis Cup outing was in Islamabad, where India defeated Pakistan 4-0.
India’s Davis Cup Squad for Switzerland Tie
- Singles: Sumit Nagal (306), Aryan Shah (442), Karan Singh (403)
- Backups: Dakshineshwar Suresh (790), Sasikumar Mukund (463)
- Doubles: Yuki Bhambri (35), N Sriram Balaji (75)
- Reserve: Rithvik Bollipalli (77)
The indoor surface in Biel is expected to be fast, posing a tactical challenge to Nagal, who prefers slower courts. However, Indian team captain Rohit Rajpal is optimistic.
“Sumit Nagal’s journey to the top 100 has been impressive. His match against Holger Rune in Denmark was competitive. We’ll evaluate court conditions during practice before finalizing our playing five,” Rajpal told PTI.
Rajpal also spoke highly of Dakshineshwar Suresh, selected over higher-ranked players.
“We’ve followed Dakshineshwar for a while. At 6’5″, with a powerful serve and solid hard-court game, he’s suited for fast surfaces. He could be a key asset,” he added.
Notably, young prodigy Manas Dhamne was not included due to his decision to focus on individual tournaments for ranking improvements.
Switzerland Squad Outlook
India will face a formidable Swiss team that includes:
- Jerome Kym (145)
- Stan Wawrinka (156)
- Marc-Andrea Huesler (170)
- Dominic Stricker (205)
- While Switzerland lost their Davis Cup qualifiers 1-3 to Spain, Rajpal noted that ranking numbers don’t always reflect European players’ threat levels, especially in home conditions.
With India aiming to reclaim Davis Cup momentum, the return of experienced names like Nagal and Bhambri — alongside emerging talent — sets the stage for a high-stakes clash in September.
