India could spring a surprise on the fancied Dutch in the Davis Cup World Group qualifying tie, starting Friday, says former Davis Cup player and captain Jaideep Mukherjea.
"We have a very young team and obviously it is going to be tough. But then Davis Cup history is littered with surprises, and India too can spring a surprise," Mukherjea said at a function, organised by the All India Tennis Association, to felicitate him on bagging the International Tennis Federation's 'Award for Services to the Game'.
"This award means more to me as it comes from the sport's world governing body. I have given my life for tennis and I will cherish this award to the last," said Mukherjea, an Arjuna Awardee in 1966.
"The award also means recognition from the Indian fraternity, and I am thankful to all my friends, my captain Rajiv Khanna, Ramanathan Krishnan, Premjit Lal and S P Mishra," he said.
A rugby player in his early days, Mukherjea turned to tennis due to a collar-bone injury, and it proved to be a blessing for Indian sport. The Kolkatan made his India debut in 1960 against Thailand, a back-door entry of sorts after the established Krishnan was down with chicken-pox.
He announced his arrival with a victory in his first game on the Davis Cup stage and then went on to perform with aplomb for the next 13 years.
Mukherjea formed with Ramanathan Krishnan and Premjit Lal the famous Three Musketeers of India. The year 1966 in particular was a watershed for him.
"I beat Krishnan in the Asian Championships final in Kolkata. He was the number one player in India at that time. Then came the victory over Wilhelm Bungert in New Delhi [in the Challenge Round against Germany]," said Mukherjea, as he recalled the most memorable moments of his sparkling career.
The crowning glory came later the same year when he partnered Krishnan to an upset victory over Australia's John Newcombe and Tony Roche. Australia beat India 4-1 at the Kooyong stadium in Melbourne, but the doubles victory became part of the India tennis folklore.
"Roche was my good friend and after the match he came and said, 'so your one win was to come against me'.
"Newcombe and Roche had remained unbeaten that year till then, and that made our win even more remarkable," said Mukherjea, who was four times Asian champion and reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon as many times.
He later on captained the Davis Cup team between 1994 and 1999 and was coach of the Indian squad to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, where Leander Paes won a bronze medal.
It was also under his captaincy that India won its last tie, 3-2 against Holland, whom they take on the crucial play-off at Zwolle, the Netherlands.
"I would play [Prakash] Amritraj in the doubles [with Mahesh Bhupathi] because he has the aggression and quick reflexes which are very important for doubles," he said.
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