Paesless! New era dawns for Indian tennis

Davis Cup players, Ramkumar Ramnathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Sriram Balaji, Rohan Bopanna

India's Davis Cup players Ramkumar Ramnathan (extreme left), Prajnesh Gunneswaran, Sriram Balaji and Rohan Bopanna look towards the board during the draw ceremony in Bangalore yesterday. Pic/PTI

Bangalore: At times, a generational shift take place in the most unsuspected time and venue. The Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) Stadium could be one such place on Friday. An Indian Davis Cup side without Leander Paes has been a rarity. For well over two decades, Paes, a seven-time Olympian, has been the fulcrum of Team India, pulling off some unreal heists irrespective of conditions and opponents. Paes will be there in Bangalore wearing Indian colours when the hosts take on Uzbekistan in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I tie which begins today. But this time, he will have to watch from the bench and cheering those on the court.

Non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi's penchant for three singles players and a doubles specialist has waylaid Paes. India will have only one familiar face in Rohan Bopanna who will pair with Sriram Balaji in the doubles tie. In the absence of injured Yuki Bhambri, the onus of leading India's charge in the singles will be on Ramkumar Ramanathan, Prajnesh Gunneswaran. In the first round, Ramkumar will face Temur Ismailov and Prajnesh will be up against Sanjar Fayzlev.

For players such as Balaji, Prajnesh, making their debut, and Ramkumar this will be a brilliant opportunity to rise to the occasion, to prove that the future of Indian tennis is in safe hands in the soon-to-be-reality post-Paes era.