Yuki, Somdev likely to return to Davis Cup squad

New Delhi - India’s top singles player Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri are likely to return to the Davis Cup squad as the selectors meet here Saturday to pick the team for the tie against Indonesia in April.

All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief executive Hiranmoy Chatterjee told IANS that all the rebel players will be available for selection but doubts remain on Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna‘s future in the team.

“All the rebel players will be available for selection,” said Chatterjee.

Yuki selects himself on the basis of being the highest ranked Indian player at 257. Somdev, who led the players’ rebellion, is the fifth highest ranked India at 354 but will be selected on the basis of his current form. Somdev had defeated world number 39 Benoit Paire of France in an ongoing ATP event in France.

Leander Paes and Purav Raja, who won the doubles in the India’s 1-4 loss to South Korea, will be the preferred choice and that puts a question mark on Bhupathi and Bopanna’s place in the team since they only play doubles.

Bhupathi and Bopanna, who defied delection committee’s decision to play together during the Olympics, were sidelined from selection till 2014 but a court has put a stay-order on the ban.

Sanam Singh (297), Sriram Balaji (314) and Saketh Myneni (390), who were all a part of the rebel group, will be available but for reserves.

It will be interesting to see if V.M Ranjeet and Vijayant Malik, who made themselves for

national duty for the Korea tie during the rebellion, are selected in the reserves.

India’s top 11 players, led by Somdev, rebelled against the AITA over a charter of demands and made themselves unavailable for national duty. It hurt the national team as an inexperienced Indian team lost the Asia/Oceania Group I first round tie against South Korea 1-4 earlier this month.

The players ended their rebellion temporarily after the AITA agreed most of the demands gave them in writing that their concerns will be looked at.