Speaking to mid-day following a record doubles win against China, Leander Paes is effusive in his praise of ex-partner and current captain Mahesh Bhupathi, putting an end to almost two decades of bitterness
Ramkumar Ramanathan fetched the crucial win but Yuki Bhambri made the day memorable even in defeat as India and Canada shared the honours on day one of the Davis Cup World Group Play-off tie.
Mumbai is in the grip of heavy rainfall and waterlogging.
India progressed to the Davis Cup World Group Playoffs by beating Uzbekistan in Bengaluru.
India's Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi opted for Rohan Bopanna instead of Leander Paes for the doubles tie against Uzbekistan.
India defeated Uzbekistan 4-1 to enter the Davis Cup World Group Playoffs.
Leander Paes hinted that his bitter relationship with Mahesh Bhupathi might have played a role in his omission from the squad.
India need just one more win out of the next three matches against Uzbekistan to enter the Davis Cup World Group Playoffs.
Indian Davis Cup captain Mahesh Bhupathi dropped him from the squad earlier in the day, opting for Rohan Bopanna as the sole doubles specialist. The decision could well spell the end of a notable career in India colours for Paes, who is still quite intent on getting to 20 Grand Slam titles.
The Indian Davis Cup team's non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi dropped Leander Paes from the squad against Uzbekistan, opting for Rohan Bopanna instead.
India will take on Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup Group 1 Asia/Oceania second round for a berth in the World Group Playoffs.
Ramkumar Ramanathan (ranked 269), Yuki Bhambri (307), Prajnesh Gunneswaran (325) and N Sriram Balaji (350) are in the playing squad for the tie scheduled from April 7 to 9 in Bengaluru.
The tie, which will be India's first with Mahesh Bhupathi as the non-playing captain, will also witness the return of Rohan Bopanna.
Bengaluru last hosted the Davis Cup World Group play off tie against Serbia in September 2014 when India went down 2-3 to the Serbians.
The Indian duo, who will meet Purav Raja and Divij Sharan in the final, defeated the US-New Zealand pair by 7-6 (4), 6-4.
While Sania Mirza ended the year as world No. 1 in women's doubles, Rohan Bopanna criticised the AITA for not getting selected for India's Davis Cup team
Mahesh Bhupathi will replace Anand Amritraj as India's next Davis Cup captain in February 2017.
Mahesh Bhupathi will take over from Anand Amritraj as India captain after the Davis Cup Group 1 Asia/Oceania first round tie against New Zealand in February 2017.
