JOIN USDoubles exponent Leander Paes said ranking could not be the sole criterion for selecting a player in the Davis Cup team.
The All India Tennis Association, which had made it clear to Paes, ranked 64, that he would have to have a high ranking to be selected for the tie, pointed at the selection of Yuki Bhambri, who is currently ranked 368.
“But look at the quality Yuki has, though he is below Saketh (Myneni) and Ramkumar (Ramanathan) in ranking. I don’t know whether I will be selected for the next tie, but whenever I am picked, I will always put my best foot forward for the country the way I did today. Don’t be surprised if Michael Venus plays in the reverse singles tomorrow, and mind you he has a singles ranking of 1000-plus. The team selection should be based on surface, current form and situation,” Paes said.
“Today we had opportunities both in the second and third sets, but we didn't take our chances. Vishnu played great, he had only 48 hours to adjust to the conditions. He is a guy with a big heart, he played much above his rankings. That is why for me rankings do not matter for me in Davis Cup."
Indian captain Anand Amritaj said the AITA could have delayed the selection of the team for the tie, and could have picked it after the Chennai Open. Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan won the Chennai Open doubles title.