New Delhi, March 1 — The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has announced the Indian squad for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup, sticking with the country’s top-ranked players. Leading the five-member squad will be India's number one, Ankita Raina, as the team prepares for the event to be held at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune from April 8.
Joining Raina in the squad are Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, and Vaidehi Chaudhari. Prarthana Thombare has been designated as the doubles specialist, while rising star Maaya Rajeshwaran, who recently reached the semifinals at the WTA Mumbai Open, will be the reserve player.
In a notable move, Vishal Uppal has been reinstated as the non-playing captain after a two-year gap. Uppal was replaced by Shalini Thakur in March 2023, but the AITA Executive Committee has now brought him back, reportedly due to concerns over the lack of due consultation in his previous removal.
To aid preparations, a training camp will commence at the venue on April 2, with Rutuja Bhosale and Vaishnavi Adkar also invited to participate. The team will be coached by Radhika Kanitkar.
With India hosting the tournament, the squad will look to make a strong impact in front of the home crowd in Pune.