New Delhi, April 6, 2026: India will kick off its campaign in the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tournament against Thailand at the DLTA Stadium on Tuesday, with the team expressing confidence ahead of its opening tie on home soil.
Addressing the media in the capital on Monday, India captain Vishal Uppal said the squad is well-prepared despite fluctuating weather conditions. “We are used to much hotter conditions in April in Delhi, but the weather is something we can’t control. What we can control is our preparation, and we’ve had some productive practice sessions. The team is ready to perform at its optimum level,” he said.
The Indian squad features Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalappalli, Ankita Raina, Rutuja Bhosale and Zeel Desai, who joined the team late following injuries to Shrivalli Bhamidipaty and Vaidehee Chaudhari. Uppal refrained from naming his singles players for the opening tie, underlining instead the depth in the squad.
“If selecting players becomes a dilemma, it’s a good problem to have. It reflects the depth in women’s tennis in India,” Uppal remarked, adding that the availability of multiple in-form players strengthens the team’s prospects.
Twenty-one-year-old Vaishnavi Adkar, who rose to India No. 1 in the rankings on Monday, is set to make her national team debut. She described the opportunity as a significant milestone. “It’s an honour to represent the country. It’s also special because we rarely get to compete together as a team. We’re all looking forward to the matches,” she said.
Veteran Ankita Raina echoed the captain’s confidence, pointing to the team’s familiarity with its opponents and strong preparation. “We’ve played against many of these players before and understand their strengths and weaknesses. We’ll take it one match at a time, but we believe in our ability to deliver,” she said.
Ahead of the tournament, the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association hosted a welcome dinner on Sunday evening for participating teams, including India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Thailand. The event blended sport with culture, with Indian players attending in traditional attire. AITA President Anil Jain and MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar were also present.
Matches at the DLTA Stadium will begin daily at 3 PM, with free entry for spectators. Uppal urged fans to turn out in large numbers, hoping home support will give India a crucial edge.
“DLTA has always been a happy hunting ground for us. We hope the crowd becomes the X-factor and backs the team throughout the week,” he said.
