Stars laud Bhupathi’s appointment as captain

India’s most prolific player and 18time Grand Slam winner Leander Paes congratulated Mahesh on being appointed as the captain. “We have got one more match with Anand (as captain), however a big congratulation to Mahesh on getting the captaincy. I think with the credentials that he has, he deserves the spot there. In the doubles game, he brings a lot in terms of communication and technical skills,” he said. 

The 43-year-old said he owes a lot to Anand. “I want to say thank you to Anand. The few years he was the captain, he has guided us along the way and it has been cool playing under him,” Paes added. 

Paes and Bhupathi were a formidable force in doubles and had to split ways after difference of opinions. However, on the prospect of interacting and playing under Bhupathi, Paes said: “It is funny – our interactions have always been very clear. I think there is a lot around us that is being said. But when we interact with each other, it is very clear. I know exactly what he wants and he knows exactly what I want. As far as that goes, I think that he is a deserving captain.” 

Rohan Bopanna, who was omitted from the squad, lauded Bhupathi’s appointment too. “The fact that he’s been on the tour till last year, he knows all the players (foreign) and how they play. That’s what will make a difference once he becomes the captain. And if they’re looking for a new captain for the future, that’s how they need to think of the team at the same time. You don’t look at the team one tie at a time. They’re looking at him for the future. He knows the players well, so they will be comfortable with him too, just like with Anand. He has played against these players so he knows their weaknesses,” he added. 

Saketh Myneni says the preparation for the Davis Cup does not change irrespective of who is in charge of the team. “It remains how it was in the last two years. I would gladly be doing whatever the captain asks me to do,” he said. 

For Tamil Nadu player Prajnesh Gunneswaran, the Davis Cup is a huge platform to showcase his skills and the player is optimistic of a good show. “I hope that I’d be part of the Davis Cup team and represent India, I’ve been playing very regularly and I’ve done well and my ranking has gone up, so I realised that I am in contention,” he said.