Davis Cup lessons for India

On the other hand, the Indian team found it difficult to synchronise their colours even when playing matches.

In stark contrast, the Indian team were seated in a disjointed fashion, like wedding crashers dividing themselves into smaller units to avoid detection.

In an engaging tussle of tennis between not so evenly matched teams, it was disappointing to see the Indian team not take care of the finer details in a setting of their own choice.

Perception is just as important as performance in a team setting, and the Indian team surely missed a trick or two over this past weekend.

The Indian team did a spectacular job of raising from the dead, after losing Friday’s opening rubbers and then falling behind by two sets and a break in the doubles on Saturday.
It was shame because we could have eager school children let inside to cheer vociferously for the Indian team from the word go.

Interestingly, Bogdan Obradovic reminded reporters that Yuki Bhambri may have drawn some negative energy from the fact that the stadium was nearly vacated immediately after Somdev had won his match.

Speaking to reporters after helping his team to an intense 3-2 win, Obradovic said, “the crowd can be a decisive factor in the Davis Cup.

But the crowd, which was just incredible for Somdev Devvarman’s match here last night, was almost reduced to half when Bhambri stepped on to the court,” as he wondered aloud about the effects of that on the 22-year-old Indian.

The tie is lost and we are back fighting relegation next year, but unless some important lessons seep under the skin of entrenched tennis officials in India, it is difficult to see how the team might lift itself out of this deep quagmire.