Leander Paes is unlikely to be part of India’s Davis Cup squad for the Group I Asia-Oceania second round match against New Zealand in Christchurch starting on July 17. A win here will take India into the World Group playoffs.
Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, captain Anand Amritraj said: “I don’t think we are going to have Leander for this. He hasn’t spoken to me about it. So, Rohan [Bopanna] is mentally getting ready to play with Saketh [Myneni].”
Saketh and Bopanna won both their doubles matches against Chinese Taipei and South Korea last year, but subsequently did not play together against Serbia in the World Group playoff in Bengaluru.
Leander had teamed up with Bopanna and won the doubles rubber in the high-profile tie which India lost 3-2.
Saketh has also played a good amount of singles matches (ranked 270) and Amritraj said he gives the team options. “But my first focus for him is doubles,” he added.
While Somdev Devvarman, India’s top-ranked player at 176, is set to lead the singles charge, the battle for second spot will be between Yuki Bhambri (257) and Ramkumar Ramanathan (247).
“Second singles will be very close between Yuki and Ramkumar,” he said. “I will be deciding that in the coming months.
“Yuki played well at the Australian Open, then in the Challengers. He has had a good three months. His serve is much improved now.
“Ramkumar has also been doing well in the Futures. Now he needs to step up and play the Challengers.”
Amritraj termed the tie “winnable” but said that he won’t take New Zealand lightly.
“They beat Chinese Taipei and then China — both tough games. On paper we are favourites.
“But in Davis Cup, rankings really don’t mean much.
“The boys are all fired up though. It’s probably going to be indoors at Christchurch because of the winter.
“So the conditions will also favour us.”
