Sumit Nagal Back In Action For India! Rejoins Davis Cup Squad For Swiss Tie
Sumit Nagal returns to India's Davis Cup team after two years, joining Yuki Bhambri for the World Group I tie against Switzerland in Biel.
India's top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal has made a return to the national team after a two-year hiatus, while leading doubles specialist Yuki Bhambri is also back in the fold as the All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Friday announced an eight-member squad for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Switzerland.
The World Group I first-round clash will be held in the Swiss city of Biel from September 12, on indoor hard courts.
Nagal Back After Two-Year Gap
Nagal last represented India in the Davis Cup during the home tie against Morocco in Lucknow in September 2023, where he won both his singles matches to help secure a 4–1 victory. Since then, he missed the landmark away tie in Pakistan in February 2024, along with subsequent matches against Sweden and Togo.
Despite a dip in form and ranking—he is currently placed at No. 306—Nagal showed signs of resurgence with a semifinal run at the Trieste Challenger in Italy earlier this month.
Joining Nagal in the singles line-up are Karan Singh (ranked 403) and promising youngster Aryan Shah (ranked 442). The reserves for singles are Sasikumar Mukund (463) and Dakshineshwar Suresh (790).
In doubles, Bhambri (ranked 35) and N Sriram Balaji (75) have been selected as the main pair, with Rithvik Bollipalli (77) named as reserve.
Bhambri last represented India in their historic 4–0 win over Pakistan in Islamabad but missed the next two ties.
Indoor Surface Poses Challenge
The indoor surface in Biel is expected to be fast, which may not suit Nagal's game, traditionally better on slower courts. However, India's Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal expressed confidence in Nagal's adaptability.
'Sumit Nagal had a great journey to the top 100. He plays at a high level, and he can make those adjustments. It's not going to be easy. In the Denmark tie against Holger Rune, it was a tight match. We have to see what kind of bounce the court offers," Rajpal told PTI.
The final playing squad will be determined based on form, fitness, and match sharpness during practice sessions leading up to the tie.
Switzerland, who lost 1–3 to Spain in the recent Davis Cup qualifiers, are expected to field a strong team. Their top-ranked singles player is Jerome Kym (145), followed by veterans Stan Wawrinka (156), Marc-Andrea Huesler (170), and Dominic Stricker (205).
Veteran player Ramkumar Ramanathan has been omitted from the squad—a move widely anticipated due to his recent struggles. Once valued for his ability to switch between singles and doubles, Ramkumar has found it difficult to qualify for singles main draws even at the Challenger level.
India's Davis Cup Squad:
Singles:
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First Published:
July 25, 2025, 18:34 IST
News sports Sumit Nagal Back In Action For India! Rejoins Davis Cup Squad For Swiss Tie
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