Bengaluru, Feb 3 (.) Team India face a stern test in their bid to break into the Davis Cup top 16, with captain Rohit Rajpal on Tuesday warning that there are “no easy teams” at this stage, even as he backed home conditions to give India a crucial edge against the Netherlands.
The two sides will square off on February 7–8 at SM Krishna Tennis Stadium, nestled within Cubbon Park, a 300-acre green lung in the heart of Bengaluru. The venue has a rich Davis Cup legacy, having hosted the prestigious competition on five occasions.
Rajpal said the Netherlands’ track record of rising to the occasion makes them a dangerous opponent, pointing to their run to the final of the 2024 World Cup as evidence of their big-match temperament.
“When you are playing for a place in the top 16 in the world, there are no easy teams. A team that reaches a final knows how to handle pressure,” Rajpal said after reviewing the Dutch squad’s recent performances.
Despite acknowledging the challenge, Rajpal expressed confidence in Team India’s preparation and familiarity with home conditions, saying the Bengaluru crowd could play a decisive role.
“Playing at home, in conditions we know well, with the crowd behind us, can make a big difference,” he said.
The SM Krishna Tennis Stadium first entered Davis Cup history in 1970, when India defeated the mighty Australia 3-1 in the Eastern Zone Final.
The venue later hosted the India–Sweden World Group quarterfinal tie in 1985 before returning to the Davis Cup calendar in 2013 for an Asia-Oceania Group I encounter against Indonesia. In 2014, it staged a World Group playoff clash against Serbia.
Rajpal recalled that India last defeated the Netherlands in the mid-1990s but said the current Team India squad has the belief and depth to end the long wait if they deliver at their peak.
“If we play the way we did in Switzerland, where everyone peaked at the right time, we have a very good chance. Sumit played outstanding tennis, Daksh stepped up against their number one, and if we reach that level again, we can go through,” he said.
Calling on fans to rally behind the team, Rajpal stressed the importance of crowd energy in a home tie.
“This is what a home tie is about. A full stadium can lift Team India and push the players to rise to the occasion,” he added.
. . CDS