India's uphill battle to beat Czech Republic and get a place in the World Group next year will start with Yuki Bhambri taking to the court today against lukas Rosol before SomdevDevvarman faces Jiri Vesley later in the day.
On the second day, legend for Indian Davis Cup leander Paes and RohanBopanna join forces against RadepStepanek and Adam Pavlasek.
And on the final day, the teams will play reverse singles where the team captains will have an option to change the players involved.
India have always been stronger in doubles than the singles rubber and this time also that fact remains despite Somdev's good recent record in Delhi where he's won two Challenger events and Yuki being a Delhi player himself. The positive however for India is that Czech number 1 and World no 5 Tomas Berdych had pulled out of the tie to focus on his ATP Tour commitments for rest of the year.
Two more positives for India are the weather and home support. The heat and humidity were expected to prove a task for the visitors but the weather forecast says the weather will be in mid 30s but remain cloudy with suggestion of rain. "I am a little worried about the prospect of rain," said Czech non-playing captain JaroslavNavratil.
"If it rains, it is always problem for the players since they have to go to the court and then outside," he added. His opposite number AnandAmritraj hoped for the exact opposite.
Stepanek who looked to be exhausted by the heat during practice on Wednesday, shrugged off any such suggestions. “We practice yesterday (Wednesday) and it was a smooth session. Whenever you’re trying to adapt to the conditions of a new place, the third day is always the toughest. But what matters most is being ready for the day that matters in the end,” said the Czech doubles player who will be facing his former partner Paes.
The home crowd will play to India's advantage as they did in 1995 against Croatia when Paes famously beat GoranIvanisevicfrom two sets down on grass in Delhi to win the tie 3-2. The Indian crowd also miraculously helped India turn tide around against Serbia last year in Bengaluru but for Team India to lose out narrowly in the end.
In the run up to the tie and even after the draw, the Indian contingent acknowledged that they are the underdogs against the top ranked Czechs. Amritraj said the team stands a chance now that there is no formidable opponent in Berdych.
On Tuesday Bhambri had voiced his preference of playing whenever it was cooler but now that the weather may not play much of a role, he said playing first gives him the chance to play freely.
The venue was chosen by India keeping in mind Delhi's courts where the ball goes slowly but bounces high which would result in longer points that would suit the Indian players especially Somdev who has the stamina to last in long and arduous duels.
But Somdev, who hasn't lost in Delhi since 2010, is someone who has a patchy form even though he's looked in good nick in practice this past week. Yuki on the other hand, now India No.1 and World no. 125, comes into the tie on the back of winning the Shanghai challenger.
India are vying to return to the World Group draw after losing to Serbia 4-1 in the first round. For the Czechs, this is a new territory — they had won in 2012 and 2013 before finding themselves in this position having lost in their own backyard to the Australians.