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India take on Romania in Davis Cup

India will challenge a formidable Romania for a place in the Davis Cup World Group with in-form teenager Somdev Devvarman as their trump card in the crucial World Group play-off tie starting on Friday.

It will be a tough test for the four-member Indian team on the red clay with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi once again holding the key in doubles rubber. Somdev, who has shown an exceptionally good form in the last three months, and Prakash Amritraj will play singles matches.

Amritraj is currently struggling with his form and thus it is imperative for Somdev to win both singles and reverse singles matches while Lee-Hesh have to live up to their reputation if India has to enter the elite group. The visitors dropped Rohan Bopanna from the team to include Somdev and have a non-playing captain in SP Mishra as Paes decided to step down as the skipper after the Beijing Olympics.

India had defeated Japan in the Asia/Oceania Group semi-finals to earn the right to contest in the World Group play-off while Romania lost to France in first round of World Group to drop to play-offs.

India last played in the World Group in 1998 when it lost to Italy 1-4 on clay in the away tie.

Tags: Davis Cup, India, leander paes, mahesh bhupathi, Prakash Amritraj, Romania, Somdev Devvarman