Former captain Anand Amritraj has called it “ridiculous” that top Indian players are not representing the country in the Davis Cup, stressing that factors like money should not prevent players from competing for India. India is set to face Togo from Saturday, but leading singles player Sumit Nagal and top doubles player Yuki Bhambri have both opted out of the World Group I play-off.
Anand Amritraj, who captained India for five years with notable success, expressed that playing for the country was a deeply emotional experience for his generation. He recalled how players like him, Vijay, and Ramesh felt it was a huge honor to represent India, regardless of payment.
“We didn’t get paid, but we loved playing the Davis Cup. It was the highlight of our year, whether we were playing in Calcutta, Delhi, Chennai, or Pune,” Amritraj told PTI in an interview.
He added, “I just don’t understand why players wouldn’t want to play. You have the rest of the year to earn money—especially now, when the pay is much higher than what we got.”
Amritraj called it “ridiculous” that players would refuse to represent the country for any reason, emphasizing that if players are good enough and injury-free, they should play.
With India facing Togo in a home tie, which is considered relatively easy due to Togo’s lack of top-ranked players, there is ongoing debate about whether India could have given younger players a chance.
Anand Amritraj emphasized that India should always field its best team.
“I believe we should play our strongest team, because if we win 3-0, then we can give the younger players a chance. But this match should be taken seriously first,” Amritraj said. He noted that Togo, despite not having high-ranked players, had beaten teams like Latvia and Indonesia, which have been competitive in the past. “We need to play our best team, which includes Ram and Sasikumar. You don’t want to risk anything or have regrets if injuries or other issues arise. In tennis, anything can happen.”
Regarding the petition filed by Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja to appoint an administrator for AITA, Amritraj said he wasn’t fully informed but expressed disappointment with the state of Indian tennis. “It’s a mess. There’s always politics involved, and that’s a big part of the problem. The focus should be on people who truly love the game and want to improve it.”
Amritraj also found it surprising that players like Sasikumar Mukund and Ramkumar Ramanathan haven’t yet broken into the top-100 rankings.
Anand Amritraj expressed surprise that India’s top players, Sasikumar Mukund and Ramkumar Ramanathan, haven’t broken into the top 100, despite having the game for it. “I can’t understand why they’re not in the top 100 or 150,” he said. “Injuries are one thing, but beyond that, it comes down to a few missing pieces—movement and mental toughness. At this level, it’s about winning those crucial points, like 30-40 or break points.”
He advised the players to stay injury-free and be able to play consistently, 25-30 weeks a year, without setbacks. “It’s really a shame for a country like ours, with a history of greats, that we’ve gone in the wrong direction. We’ve lost our way, and it’s tragic.”
Amritraj also criticized the lack of a robust tournament structure in India. After losing its only ATP250 event, India now has limited Challenger-level tournaments. “Instead of having ten Challengers, a mix of a 250 and five Challengers would be better. A 250 raises the profile of the game and gives the country something to aspire to.”
He emphasized that the focus should remain on singles. “Singles is the number one priority. It’s sad how far we’ve fallen, even in the last 20 years. Doubles is more for fun and money, but tennis is ultimately a one-on-one sport.”