Bucharest: India will challenge a formidable Romania for a place in the Davis Cup World Group with in-form teenager Somdev Devvarman as their trump card in the crucial World Group play-off tie starting in Bucharest on Friday.
It will be a tough test for the four-member Indian team on the red clay with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi once again holding the key in doubles rubber.
Somdev, who has shown an exceptionally good form in the last three months, and Prakash Amritraj will play singles matches.
Amritraj, struggling with his form at present, being the weak link in the team, it is imperative for Somdev to win both singles and reverse singles matches while Lee-Hesh have to live up to their reputation if India has to enter the elite group.
India defeated Japan in the Asia/Oceania Group semi-finals to earn the right to contest in the World Group play-off while Romania lost to France in first round of World Group to drop to play-offs.
India last played in the World Group in 1998 when they lost 1-4 against Italy on clay in the away tie.
The visitors dropped Rohan Bopanna from the team to include Somdev and have a non-playing captain in SP Mishra as Paes decided to step down as the skipper after the Beijing Olympics.
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