Davis Cup: India’s best is World No. 461, Pakistan’s World No. 1681

A huge rankings mismatch between the two sides and a venue with capacity to accomodate 500 fans has taken the shine off the rare Indian team’s tour of Pakistan. While the attention-grabbing aspect of this tie may be the frosty sporting relations between the two countries, India will hope to ride their status as heavy favourites to go back into World Group 1.

Following tough ties against Casper Ruud-led Norway and Holger Rune-led Denmark, India found themselves in the humbling position of being demoted to World Group 2, but favourable ties against lower-ranked Morocco at home, and now Pakistan away, should give them a chance to go back up one division.

The Indian team does not feature either Sumit Nagal – fresh off a confidence-boosting second-round finish at the Australian Open – or Sasikumar Mukund, but instead will be led by World No. 461 Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji, who last played a professional singles match in October 2022.

Even then, the historical mismatch between the teams – India have always held the edge over Pakistan in the Davis Cup, having won each of their seven previous encounters – may continue. Pakistan’s highest-ranked player will be 24-year-old Muzammil Mortaza, who is currently the World No. 1681.

The most recent tie between the two had been a 4-0 drubbing in 2019 at a neutral venue in Kazakhstan – India’s multiple appeals for the same were rejected this time around. However, in protest of the tie being moved away from Pakistan, the team’s top stars, aging veterans Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan, chose not to compete five years ago, and they continue to spearhead the home challenge for their side this weekend.

As the draw revealed on Friday, despite not even being placed on the ATP rankings, both Qureshi, 43, and Khan, 44, will be taking on Ramkumar and Balaji in the singles matches on Saturday. Yuki Bhambri will team up with Saketh Myneni to play the doubles rubber against Mortaza and Barkat Ullah on Sunday.

Ramkumar remains the only player of the four who is still playing singles full-time professionally, and he is also adept on grass. One of the few remaining Indian players who is still an effective serve-and-volleyer, the best result of Ramkumar’s career was reaching the final of an ATP 250 event on grass back in 2018. His presence hands India the advantage on paper.

The Pakistani veterans will be hoping to use grass court experience to cause any upsets in the second singles on Saturday and potentially, if they can force one, in the second reverse singles on Sunday, especially since they can’t bank on loud home support with only 500-odd spectators in attendance due to the security measures in place.

Balaji has been chosen over both former India No. 1 Bhambri, who is now a full-time doubles specialist, and Niki Poonacha, seemingly keeping the low-bouncing quick grass courts at the Islamabad Sports Complex in mind, decisions for which India may well have made during their preparatory camp in New Delhi last week.

Zeeshan Ali, India coach, and captain for the tie in the absence of Rohit Rajpal, does not believe his players need any extra motivation. “The mood is upbeat and we are well prepared after the week we had in the camp in Delhi,” he told The Indian Express from Islamabad earlier this week. “All I need to say is that we have a job to do here, and the players know what it means to play for India in the Davis Cup.”

TEAMS:

India: Ramkumar Ramanathan, N Sriram Balaji, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Niki Poonacha

Pakistan: Aisam Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Muzammil Murtaza, Muhammad Shoaib, Barkat Ullah

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