Rohan Bopanna makes a return to India’s Davis Cup squad for the tie against Uzbekistan after being dropped against New Zealand last month, PTI reported. Veteran Leander Paes has also been retained in the squad for the tie to be played in April in Bengaluru.
Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, N Sriram Balaji are the other members of the team, the All India Tennis Association announced on Monday.
The squad will be pruned to four two weeks ahead of the tie.
This is India’s first assignment under newly-appointed non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupati, who was brought in to replace Anand Amritraj in February.
Paes’ inclusion gives him another chance to chase a record 43rd doubles win in Davis Cup. He’s currently tied on 42 wins with Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli.
Paes, 43, along with Vishnu Vardhan had lost to Artem Sitak and Michael Venus 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (8-6), 6-3 in the doubles rubber.
Saketh Myneni and Sumit Nagal were unavailable for selection through injury.
“With the current roster of available players for the Davis Cup yie, I am confident that this is the strongest squad for the Tie,” Bhupati said. “My decision on the final competing team for the weekend will be based on their performances over the next three weeks and their fitness levels during the week of the tie,” he added.
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