Zeeshan Ali lends clarity on Indian team for Davis Cup tie against Norway

Ramkumar Ramanathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Sumit Nagal had reached Norway in the first batch, and were joined by Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni on Saturday.

India’s Davis Cup team poses for a photograph with the Indian Ambassador to Norway, Dr. B Bala Bhaskar. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Indian team has been preparing in Oslo for the Davis Cup World Group tie against Norway.

Coach Zeeshan Ali stated that the team would reach Lillehammer on Monday for the tie to be played on indoor hard courts on September 16 and 17.

Ramkumar Ramanathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran and Sumit Nagal had reached Norway in the first batch, and were joined by Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni on Saturday. Captain Rohit Rajpal, along with the coach, and the physios Yash Pandey and Manish Kumar, reached from Delhi.

Sasikumar Mukund who won the $25,000 ITF singles title in Sintra, Portugal, was expected to join the team shortly.

‘’Mukund winning the tournament is good news for us as that shows he is in good form. It was important to come in a few days early as the whole summer the boys have not played indoors. So, this gives them the time to get accustomed to the environment’’, said Zeeshan.

The team was given a welcome dinner by the Indian ambassador, Dr. B Bala Bhaskar, at his residence.

With only five names to be presented for the tie, the six players do give the team that extra option to choose the very best.

‘’We can make changes to the team till an hour before the draw ceremony. We will make all the players practice at the match venue and then will take a call, depending on form, ability to adapt to the surface etc.’’, explained the coach.

The Norway team must be delighted that its spearhead Casper Ruud was playing the US Open final, and being on the threshold to become world No.1.