Indian tennis player Sasi Kumar Mukund has pulled out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Pakistan due to a foot injury.
Indian tennis player Sasi Kumar Mukund has pulled out of the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Pakistan due to a foot injury.
Mukund was included in the team as a reserve member but suffered the injury while playing in a tournament in Portugal.
“Unfortunately, Sasi will not travel with us. He was informed that he sustained the injury while playing the doubles with compatriot Purav Raja,” India’s Davis Cup coach Zeeshan Ali told PTI during the team’s practice session.
Mukund has become the second Indian player to pull out of the competition after Rohan Bopanna had withdrawn due to a shoulder injury. “I can’t put my weight down properly due to the injury,” said Mukund.
Meanwhile, Zeeshan hopes N Sriram Balaji will be travel to Nur Sultan as getting a visa at such short notice won’t be possible.
Balaji was not named in the eight-member squad but has been with the Indian team in the training camp.
Captain Rohit Rajpal - who took over from Mahesh Bhupathi - is busy working out the doubles combination during the session.
He rued Mukund’s absence saying, “It is always good to have different training partners in an away tie. You need that variety in the side. It’s unfortunate”.
Taking about the doubles combination, Rajpal said they are trying both Saketh Myneni and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan to pair with Leander Paes.
“We still feel, Aisam and Aqeel may turn up for Pakistan so we are preparing all combinations. If a player like Saketh is there, Leander can dominate from the net,” he said.
“If Jeevan is playing with Leander then probably, it’s better Leander takes care of the backside of the court since Jeevan is quick. So we are trying everything.”
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