Yuki Bhambri’s Davis Cup Participation in Doubt Due to Injury
Yuki Bhambri’s ability to compete in India’s upcoming Davis Cup match against Korea in Seoul is uncertain after he suffered a right-leg strain during practice. This incident occurred just before his first-round match at the US Open, and Indian team captain Rohit Rajpal has called it a significant setback for the team’s preparations.
Bhambri was not part of the first group of Indian players who traveled to Seoul on Thursday night, which puts his participation in this important tie in jeopardy. India is eager to win this match to secure a spot in the eight-team Davis Cup Finals.
The 32-year-old player has tried to ease worries about his injury, referring to it as minor and affirming that it shouldn’t affect his planned participation in the Asian Games later this month. He is being evaluated daily while receiving support from the Indian team staff, including Debashish Das and Yash Pandey.
“This strain occurred during practice just before my main draw match. It’s a minor strain. There’s no set timeline for my recovery, but it’s nothing serious,” Bhambri told PTI.
He added, “It’s still painful. We’re taking it day by day to see how it goes. I’m committed to competing in the Asian Games 100%. We’ll see if I can recover in time for the Davis Cup.”
From Seoul, Rajpal expressed concern about Bhambri’s injury disrupting the team’s plans but remains optimistic that he will be fit for the Asian Games. “We’re working on it; hopefully, he should recover soon. Losing him is a big hit for us. Yuki is our top doubles player and plays well with DK (Dhakshineswar).”
Rajpal also noted, “His injury means we’re going back to square one in terms of our strategy. Our doubles combinations will depend on how quickly Yuki recovers and how we perform on the first day. The Koreans have the advantage of playing on home soil.”
If Bhambri cannot return in time, India may need to adjust its doubles lineup. N Sriram Balaji, the second-ranked doubles player, might pair with singles player Dhakshineswar. Additionally, reserve players Siddharth Rawat and Arnav Paparkar are in the squad but mainly play singles.
To prepare for any eventualities, AITA sources said left-handed Anirudh Chandrasekar, India’s fourth-ranked doubles player, has been asked by Rajpal to join the team in Seoul, as he already has a valid Korean visa. Meanwhile, the organization is also working on visa arrangements for Niki Poonacha, the third-ranked doubles player, as a backup option.
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