India on Thursday preferred Ramkumar Ramanathan over No. 1 singles player Sumit Nagal for their clash against top seeds Croatia in the Davis Cup Qualifiers beginning in Zagreb on Friday.

The hosts will be led by world No. 37 Marin Cilic. The absence of their best-ranked player Borna Coric (world No. 33) means that Indians can go after their second singles player Borna Gojo, who is yet to win a match in the Davis Cup.

Speaking from Zagreb, India coach Zeeshan Ali told The Telegraph: “The conditions here are very good. The indoor court is medium fast with low bounce which most of our players are enjoying.

“We can’t rule out any upset. Anything is possible. We are hoping to win one match on the first day and then we have the experience of Leander (Paes) and Rohan (Bopanna) get us through the doubles. Not playing Sumit was a strategy we decided to adopt going into the first day since Ramkumar’s game is more suited to the conditions. There is a possibility that Sumit might play the reverse singles, but it’s too early to say anything.

“The doubles is going to be very crucial for us. We are a bit relieved that Ivan Dodig is not playing due to a wrist injury, but that doesn’t mean the Croatian's are any less threatening. Rohan and Leander both have to play their A game.”

Leander and Bopanna will play Mate Pavic and Franko Skugor. It could be the last tie for the 46-year-old Paes who had said that 2020 is his final season as a professional. Bidding adieu to the Davis Cup on a winning note will be a high point since he is already the most successful doubles player in the history of the tournament.

The last time the two sides competed against each other, India won 3-2 in New Delhi in 1995 on grass courts.