New Delhi, April 6 India will aim to leverage familiar conditions and home support when the Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group I ties begin at the DLTA Complex on Tuesday, with a firm focus on securing a spot in the 2026 playoffs.
However, the home challenge faces a setback with the withdrawal of talented Shrivalli Bhamidipaty.
Alongside Indonesia, Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Thailand, the hosts face a tough competition in a closely contested field where only the top two teams will advance, while the bottom two teams will be relegated to Group II for 2027.
India returns to regional competition after a disappointing performance in the 2025 playoffs held in Bengaluru, where they finished third in Group G.
The hosts suffered a 1-2 defeat against Slovenia and a 0-3 loss against the Netherlands, despite spirited efforts from debutants Shrivalli and Sahaja Yamalapalli.
This campaign marked a transition phase for the team, and the responsibility in singles now rests firmly on Sahaja and top-ranked Vaishnavi Adkar, who lead India's charge in the format.
Experienced campaigner Ankita Raina is expected to focus on doubles duties, where her experience alongside Rutuja Bhosale remains a key asset. It wouldn't be surprising if captain Vishal Uppal asks Ankita to play singles as well during the tournament.
Sahaja, India's number two player at rank 384, has been a consistent performer on the ITF circuit, reaching multiple semifinals in the past year and breaking into the top 300, underlining her role as the team's lead singles option.
She also gained valuable experience at the WTA level, including a main-draw win on her debut at the Chennai Open, demonstrating her ability to compete against higher-ranked opponents.
Shrivalli has shown her composure in high-pressure situations, having gone unbeaten in singles during India's strong performance in the 2025 Asia-Oceania Group I event, defeating several higher-ranked players.
She faced early exits in recent events such as the Mumbai Open, but her fighting spirit continues to highlight her potential at this level.
Her withdrawal is a setback for the hosts.
"Shrivalli withdrew due to back spasms. Vaidehee Chaudhari (India number 3) would have replaced her, but she twisted her ankle during practice on Thursday. She hasn't fully recovered, so we can't risk her. Zeel Desai has replaced her," Uppal told