Sumit Nagal opts out of tie against Togo

India will be without Sumit Nagal for the Davis Cup 2025 World Group I play-off tie against Togo after the 27-year-old made himself unavailable for the contest scheduled in New Delhi on February 1-2.

Sumit Nagal, India’s best-ranked singles tennis player at world No. 98, had pulled out of India’s Davis Cup 2024 World Group I tie against Sweden in September citing a back strain.

The Indian tennis player had also skipped the 2024 play-offs against Pakistan in January-February, saying that the grass courts in Islamabad did not suit his playing style.

According to PTI, Rohit Rajpal, who will continue to captain the Indian Davis Cup team in 2025, tried to convince Nagal to return for national duty but he did not respond to the mail in which the players were asked for their availability.

Yuki Bhambri, India’s top-rated doubles player placed 48th in the ATP tennis rankings, has also made himself unavailable for the tie against Togo.

However, Sasikumar Mukund is all set to return to the national team after the All India Tennis Association (AITA) Executive Committee rescinded his suspension, which kept him out of the tie against Sweden in Stockholm in September.

At world No. 368, Mukund will be the best-ranked singles player in the five-member Indian squad for the Davis Cup 2025 World Group I play-off tie against Togo.

World No. 393 Ramkumar Ramanathan and the 473rd-ranked Karan Singh are the two other singles players in the squad.

Meanwhile, Bhambri’s absence will see N Sriram Balaji, 65th in the ATP doubles rankings, spearhead India’s doubles challenge in the tie. He is expected to partner with world No. 72 Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli, who received his maiden national team call-up.

Additionally, two reserve players will be added to the squad. Aryan Shah, Manas Dhamne, Dakshineshwar Suresh, and Yuvan Nandal have been summoned to a training camp to compete for the spots.

Indian Davis Cup 2025 team for Togo tie

Players: Mukund Sasikumar, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Karan Singh, N Sriram Balaji, Rithvik Bollipalli

Captain: Rohit Rajpal

Coach: Ashutosh Singh

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