The historic visit of the Indian team to Pakistan for the 2024 Davis Cup after a gap of 60 years concluded with a resounding victory, securing a coveted place in World Group I. Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni's convincing win in the play-off tie against Muzammil Murtaza and Aqeel Khan solidified the team's 3-0 lead. Bhambri and Myneni demonstrated exceptional skills, leaving their opponents with little room to challenge them.
Aqeel Khan stepped in as a replacement for Barkat Ullah in the Pakistan team, a strategic decision aimed at injecting experience into the lineup for the crucial do-or-die match. Nevertheless, India maintained their dominance over Pakistan in the tournament. The Indian players exhibited a superior level of quality, with Myneni's powerful serves proving challenging for the home team to handle. Bhambri's well-placed winners further fortified India's advantage.
India's Davis Cup Dominance Over Pakistan
This win marks India's eighth consecutive victory against Pakistan in the Davis Cup. Consequently, India will participate in World Group I in September this year, while Pakistan will remain in Group II.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the players, with various agencies collaborating to ensure a smooth and incident-free tie. Bhambri and Myneni took control of the match early on, breaking Aqeel's serve in the first and fifth games to establish a commanding 4-1 lead.
Although Murtaza displayed resilience and saved three set points in game seven, Bhambri secured the first set with ease. The second set remained highly competitive, with both teams holding their serves until it reached 5-5. However, a few errors from the Indian team allowed the Pakistanis to gain a 4-2 lead in the tie-breaker. Nonetheless, Bhambri and Myneni quickly regained control, equalising the score at 5-5 and ultimately winning the match as Aqeel double-faulted at match point.
The exceptional performance of the Indian Davis Cup team in Pakistan underscores their skill and adaptability. With this significant victory, India have solidified their place in the prestigious World Group I, showcasing the country's growing prowess in international tennis.