Injury-hit India look to ride on home support to reach Billie Jean King Cup playoffs

The gamers and venue could be completely different however India could be hoping to repeat its consequence from the final 12 months when the staff takes on Thailand in its opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup on the DLTA Stadium on Tuesday.

The six-team Asia/Oceania Group I competitors, to be performed in a single round-robin format, would be the second straight 12 months India is internet hosting the occasion. India, which completed second behind New Zealand in Pune in 2025 to advance to the playoffs, will likely be hoping to take action once more.

It received’t be simple, nonetheless, with Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who went unbeaten in all her 5 matches final 12 months and was awarded the BJK Coronary heart award for her performances, out with harm.

New Zealand, Thailand and Korea have returned this 12 months together with Mongolia and Indonesia with the latter anticipated to be a tricky opponent and the previous an unknown amount the staff captain and former Davis Cupper Vishal Uppal is cautious of.

Whereas Shrivalli pulled out with a again spasm, reserve participant Vaidehee Chaudhari injured her ankle throughout coaching on Thursday however Uppal insisted there was sufficient depth within the staff with out revealing his staff combos.

Zeel Desai has been known as up as a substitute, the 27-year-old withdrawing from the semifinals of the $15000 ITF occasion in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to hitch the aspect on the final minute.

High-ranked Indian Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalappalli, Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale full the aspect with the final two, probably the most skilled, anticipated to shoulder the doubles problem whereas leaving the singles to the kids.

“I’m glad having an issue selecting gamers for a tie than one the place I don’t have gamers, that’s a very good downside to have, it tells you there’s depth,” Uppal stated on the eve of the competitors.

India’s greatest problem will likely be from Indonesia, led by the highest-ranked participant within the discipline, World No. 41 Janice Tjen, and doubles specialist Aldila Sutjiadi. New Zealand, additionally stays a menace with doubles specialist Erin Routliffe in its ranks regardless of the absence of Lulu Solar.

Tuesday’s matches (3 p.m. onwards): India vs. Thailand (centre courtroom), New Zealand vs. Indonesia (courtroom 1), Mongolia vs. Korea (courtroom 2).