Indian non-playing skipper Mahesh Bhupathi picked Rohan Bopanna ahead of Leander Paes in his final four-man team roster for India’s Group I second round tie against Uzbekistan on Thursday.
Bopanna, who is ranked 24th in the world, is India’s highest ranked doubles player. He has won one ATP title this year. He partnered compatriot Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan to win the Chennai Open in January. He also reached the final of the Dubai Open, teaming up with Poland’s Marcin Matkowski, but the duo lost the title to Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau.
Bhupathi had previously selected Yuki Bhambri, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran and N. Sriram Balaji for the tie, and had kept both Paes and Bopanna as reserves in the squad. However, following Bhambri having to pull out of the tie with an injury to his knee, either of Paes and Bopanna stood a chance to be included in the team as its fourth member.
The captain hadn’t, however, revealed his decision as to who would be included in the team until the day of the draw, which will take place on Thursday, a day before the start of the tie from April 7-9.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Paes had started his training with an eye on being selected in the team’s playing four. Bhupathi had, however, gone on to say, “The team has not yet been finalised. I have seen Leander for the first time today. Let us see how it goes. He looks fresh. He looks good. He is going to play some sets and then let us see.”
Following Bopanna being included in the team, he will partner Balaji in the doubles rubber that will be played on Saturday, April 8. Both Gunneswaran and Balaji will be making their debut in the team-based event.
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