India capped off their first visit to Pakistan for a Davis Cup tie in 60 years with an eighth consecutive win over their neighbours in the team competition, ensuring promotion to the World Group 1. Entering the day with a 2-0 lead, Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni defeated Muzammil Murtaza and Aqeel Khan in the doubles rubber to seal the playoff tie.
Later, debutant Niki Poonacha beat Muhammad Shoaib in a dead rubber, as India completed a 4-0 win in Islamabad on Sunday.
Despite being without their top singles players, receiving the heavy attention that any sporting tie between India and Pakistan grabs – especially after India saw multiple attempts to have the tie moved to a neutral venue rejected – and having to deal with the heavy security cover that restricted their movement within the city, the higher-ranked Indian side comfortably sailed past Pakistan with four wins, dropping only one set along the way.
Poonacha, in the follow-up dead rubber, was also comfortable on top against Muhammad Shoaib, not facing a single break point and crunching returns against his opponent’s faltering serve to round out the 6-3, 6-4 win.
Pakistan veteran Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi had caused a slight scare by winning the tight opening set against Ramkumar Ramanathan on Saturday, but after riding his opponent’s momentum and recovering to clinch the second set in a tiebreaker, Ramkumar won the match in three sets and India did not look back from there. N Sriram Balaji defeated Khan in two rain-interrupted sets to give his side the 2-0 lead on Saturday, and the doubles win sealed promotion.