India’s Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal reaffirmed on Thursday that experienced doubles specialist N Sriram Balaji is still very much in consideration for the national team despite being left out of the squad
for the upcoming tie against the Netherlands. Rajpal emphasised that team combinations dictated the selection.
Rajpal explained that the decision was influenced by the need for a deuce-court specialist in the doubles pairing, with Rithvik Bollipalli fitting that role alongside Yuki Bhambri, who prefers to play from the ad court.
“Considering combinations, we were looking for a deuce-court player. Yuki only plays from the ad court, so Rithvik is a deuce-court specialist. Balaji remains in contention,” Rajpal said.
The deuce court is the right side of the court from where each game starts, while the ad court (Advantage) is the left side.
The captain stressed that Balaji’s omission should not be seen as a reflection of his ability or status within the team, highlighting the Chennai-based player’s proven record in high-pressure situations.
“Balaji has previously played singles in crucial moments for India and has handled important matches for the country. He is a core member of the Indian team and could be considered for the next tie, if fit,” Rajpal added.
India will face the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Qualifiers on February 7-8 in Bengaluru.
Aryan Shah has withdrawn from the tie, which has upset the All India Tennis Association (AITA).
“He made himself available for the tie, but after the team announcement, he informed the AITA that he was not available for the match. This is not appreciated,” said an AITA source.
Aryan Shah is ranked 403, and is the second-highest ranked Indian player behind Sumit Nagal (277).
Aryan may have felt overlooked by the selection committee when players ranked below him—Karan Singh (471) and Dhakshineswar Suresh (524)—were included in the playing squad while he was named as a reserve.
Dhakshineswar played a key role in India’s inspiring victory against Switzerland in the away tie in September.
The AITA may not seek a replacement since Anirudh Chandrasekhar and Digvijay Pratap Singh are already there as other reserve players.
(With Inputs Form Agencies)
