Dhakshineswar ensures that India returns to the elite

The last time India was among the global elite in the Davis Cup was in 2011, when the country was one of the top 16 nations in the World Group.

On Sunday (February 8, 2026) at the SM Krishna Tennis Stadium in Bengaluru, the country returned to the top by beating the Netherlands 3-2 in the first qualifying round.

It will be one of 14 representatives in the second qualifying round to be held in September and will likely meet South Korea. Seven from the second round will advance to the Davis Cup final, joining hosts Italy in the grand final.

If anyone had predicted five months ago that a yet-to-be-achieved Dhakshineswar Suresh would lead India to the Promised Land, they would have been mocked. But the 25-year-old, with a 6-foot-4 frame and a lanky build, played an outsized role by winning both the doubles and reverse singles, along with the singles victory on the opening day.

It was reminiscent of the great Leander Paes, who successfully played both singles and doubles, a feat the legend last achieved in 2004 against New Zealand.

Dhakshineswar entered the doubles battle in place of Sriram Balaji and teamed with Yuki Bhambri to beat Sander Arends and David Pel 7-6(0), 3-6, 7-6(1). Sumit Nagal’s 7-5, 1-6, 4-6 defeat to Jesper de Jong set up a decisive match, but Dhakshineswar came up with the goods to outsmart Guy Den Ouden 6-4, 7-6(4).

Credit should also go to the Indian think tank led by Captain Rohit Rajpal, who used Balaji as bait and played bluff with Dhakshineswar.

Confidence was placed in his abilities and his experience playing doubles on the American collegiate circuit. And the 25-year-old did not disappoint. The show-stopping performance was the doubles match in which Dhakshineswar and Yuki together defeated two players ranked in the ATP top-40.

In the first set, the Dutch duo had six break points spread over two games on the Yuki serve, but were unable to capitalize on this. In the tiebreak they were not aggressive enough and paid the price.

However, the visitors’ touch play was reflected in a healthy way in the second stanza. Dressed in fluorescent orange and sports glasses, Arends felt the tennis suited his flashy looks and executed a series of breathtaking shots to level his team.

The decider was back and forth, but took a nasty turn at 5-6 on Pel’s serve when a fierce forehand from Yuki hit Arends’ left hand from close range. The 34-year-old took a medical timeout and returned with his pinky and ring fingers tied together.

The serving throw was a problem, as was grabbing the backhand. The match turned into a decisive tiebreak, but there was only one winner.

Five hours later that joy doubled.