India will start as favourites on the tailor-made grass courts of Delhi Gymkhana Club, when they take on Denmark in the Davis Cup World Group 1 Playoff first round match here on Friday.
Yuki Bhambri is back in the squad and that changes the dynamics for the two-day rubber. Out of action for the past few years due to knee injury, Bhambri was missed as India lost ties for the lack of a strong singles player.
On Friday, Ramkumar Ramanathan (ranked 170) will open the tie for India with the first singles against Christian Sigsgaard, the world No. 824.
For Ramkumar, an experienced grass-court player, it will be a good chance to take India ahead. Bhambri (590) may have a tougher outing when he faces 305th ranked Mikale Torpegaard. If Holger Rune (ranked 88) had not pulled out of the tie, the match could have proved tougher for India.
Going by rankings, India have the advantage, but in Davis Cup players are known to punch above their weight. And so, it will all come down to who plays better on the match day. The Indian team will have a feel of the centre court for the first time on Friday.
“The idea is to keep it low and as fast as possible... Hopefully it will play well,” non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal said. Since the bounce is expected to be low, the team management thought it will be better to have Bhambri play the singles instead of Prajnesh Gunneswaran as low bounce suits the former’s game better.
Rajpal also chose left-handed Divij Sharan with the big-serving Rohan Bopanna for the doubles on Saturday. Rajpal’s argument for keeping Ramkumar out of the doubles was that the team did not want him to be put under pressure by making him play three matches.
Bopanna said after playing for 20 years on the circuit it does not make a difference to him whether he plays with a left-hander or a right-hander.
“My focus is on what I can do. After playing with numerous partners in my 20-year career, it does not matter now. The adjustment comes naturally whether it’s a left-handed partner or a right handed,” the 41-year-old said.
