New Delhi: Top-ranked Indian men’s tennis player Sumit Nagal has once again refused for the national duty for the Davis Cup 2025 season with reports suggesting that the World No.98 put some ‘unreasonable conditions’ for his availability in India’s David Cup team for the World Group I playoffs, scheduled on February 1 and 2 next year.
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has announced a five-member team for the Davis Cup 2025 clash against Togo in New Delhi. Sasikumar Mukund, who was said to be suspended and missed the tie against Sweden in Group II this year in September, has been recalled to the squad, and the 27-year-old will be India’s top-ranked player at No.368 in current ATP rankings.
Why Sumit Nagal has refused for national duty
According to a report by news agency PTI, Mukund’s was convinced to play by India’s non-playing captain Rohit Rajpal, who will continue to be in the role for 2025 season despite facing scrutiny over his coaching style and tactics.
Meanwhile, Sumit Nagal didn’t participate in either of India’s Davis Cup ties against Pakistan in Islamabad and Sweden in Stockholm. He cited his uncharted territory of playing on grass courts for the reason not to travel to Islamabad, and later wasn’t available due to back strain.
“After captain Rajpal spoke with Mukund, his suspension was revoked by the Executive Committee, so he was picked. He is good player and need to be given a chance to wear the India jersey again,” a source, close to the development, was quoted as saying by PTI.
Rajpal tried to convince Nagal to return for national duty but he did not respond to the mail in which the players are asked for their availability, as per PTI reports. Delhi-based player Yuki Bhambri, who also missed the Sweden tie, won’t be available for the Togo match.
“I am extremely disappointed with Sumit for not making himself available for this tie. We agreed to all his demands last time also, still he has refused national duty which is unacceptable,” Rajpal told PTI.
“Nagal has put forward some unreasonable demands which can’t be accepted,” an AITA source said.
“It was on insistence of Nagal that slow hard courts were chosen for the tie but now he has said he won’t play. If he had made his stance clear, captain Rajpal would have opted for grass courts for this tie,” the source added.
India’s remaining squad for Davis Cup tie against Togo
Ramkumar Ramanathan (No. 393) and Karan Singh (No. 473) are the other two singles player in the five-member squad apart from Mukund Sasikumar. N Sriram Balaji, who partnered with Rohan Bopanna in the Paris Olympics, will lead the mantle for the doubles with Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli likely to pair with the Tami Nadu-based player. The latter has received his maiden national call-up to the squad.
The likes of Aryan Shah (No.592), Manas Dhamne, Sakshineshwar Suresh and Yuvan Nandal will be joining in a training camp, where the selectors will choose two reserved players from the lot.
The AITA selection committee dropped Siddharth Vishwakarma and Niki Poonacha from the squad.
(With inputs from PTI)
The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has announced a five-member team for the Davis Cup 2025 clash against Togo in New Delhi in February 2025. Sasikumar Mukund, who was said to be suspended and missed the tie against Sweden in Group II this year in September, has been recalled to the squad. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today