Bengaluru, February 7 India captain Rohit Rajpal hailed Dhakshineswar Suresh as his "trump card" after he produced another composed performance in the Davis Cup to defeat world number 88 Jesper de Jong and level India's qualifying tie against the Netherlands at 1-1 here on Saturday.
"He is always there as my trump card, and I bring him out whenever I need him – and he delivers," Rajpal said.
"I think he is the next big thing for Indian tennis. The first time I saw him, I told him that with a few things in place, this guy has the potential to be in the top 100. He is capable of reaching the top 50, even the top 20," said Rajpal.
Dhakshineswar, who once again overcame the ranking disparity in Davis Cup tennis, said he walked onto the court with a calm, no-pressure mindset despite the importance of the match.
"Playing for India is an honour. I just wanted to go out there, give my best, and have some fun. There was nothing to gain and nothing to lose, and in the end, I was happy that I played the way I wanted to."
The young player said the support from the Indian camp helped him stay composed throughout the tight contest, which featured strong serving from both players.
"The crowd was amazing, and the whole team was behind me. The captain was always encouraging me, whether I won a point or lost one. That support makes a big difference in matches like this."
Explaining his calm demeanour on the court, Dhakshineswar said emotional control is central to his game.
"I've always been a quiet person, and I don't talk much. If I show emotion, it probably puts pressure on the other player. It's just one point. The next point won't wait for you."
Dhakshineswar added that his preparation between points is simple and deliberate.
"I just take a deep breath, clear my head, and focus on the next point. Whatever happened before is in the past," he said.
Meanwhile, Rajpal defended Sumit Nagal after India's top singles player lost the opening rubber, saying the result must be viewed in the context of his recent return from injury.
"Sumit is recovering from injury and needed more match play," Rajpal said. "It's not easy to come back and play in the Davis Cup under pressure against good players. Even without finding his rhythm, he was pretty close."
The India captain added that Nagal's preparation had been carefully managed by the support staff.
"We had the doctor and the physiotherapist working with him day and night to get him back. We are happy that he is back on the court, and sooner or later he will be back where he belongs," Rajpal said.
Dhakshineswar, who has now beaten higher-ranked opponents for India both at home and away, said Davis Cup brings out a different level of motivation.
"Playing for your country doesn't happen often. When you get that one opportunity, you have to seize it," he said. "I did everything I could in the weeks leading up to this tie to be ready."
With the tie finely poised heading into the doubles, Rajpal said all options remained open for team combinations and selection decisions.
"We will sit together as a team and decide what is best for India," he said.