In the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie today, India will open its campaign against Canada. In the first singles match Ramkumar Ramanathan, ranked 154, is up against the debutant Bradley Schnur while Yuki Bhambri will play the crucial second singles against world number 51 Denis Shapovalov.
The Indian team is making its fourth
straight attempt to make it to the elite 16-nation World Group, having lost in the last three years to Serbia in 2014, Czech Republic in 2015 and Spain in 2016 in the Play-offs. India captain Mahesh Bhupathi has sprung a surprise by teaming up Rohan Bopanna with Purav Raja instead of Saketh Myneni for the doubles rubber, to be played tomorrow.