Vishal Uppal replaces Sunil Kumar
KADAMBARI MURALI

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18: The Indian Davis Cup team for the home tie against South Korea was announced on Saturday, with some confusion over the composition of the reserves and practice partners.

This time, Minotra has named AITA trainee CS Mohanty as the extra practice partner. When asked if Mohanty will accompany the team as Uppal did in Lucknow and practice regularly with them, Minotra replied in the affirmative. ``Mohanty will be the practice partner for the team, in addition to Vijay who is the reserve.''

But is Mohanty the right choice seeing that his credentials are nothing much compared to others? ``We're not looking for someone in the same league. He is in Delhi and is available,'' Minotra said.

Incidentally, Davis Cup committee chairman and AITA executive committee member Anil Khanna, when contacted, said he had no hand in choosing the team, but on Mohanty, he said: ``There is no way that he is or will be in the team in any capacity. Neither will he be a regular practice partner. If he wants to hang around, that's a different matter.''

Added Khanna, ``There is only one reserve in the team, as requested by Ramesh and that is Vijay Kannan. He (Ramesh) also said if Sunil was available, then he would like him around to hit with the team. Otherwise, there are people like Mustafa who can be called in. There is no question of Mohanty.''

Meanwhile, Ramesh Krishnan has written to Khanna saying he will be available to begin practice from next Monday (March 27), but when the players will come in will depends on their schedule. The tie is from April 7-9.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.