Barring one blemish, South Africa has been impressive, till Pakistan put it past Australia. The latter seemed invincible. India's bowling attack may not be great, but the expectations from the star-studded batting lineup and the team in general is understandably high. Pakistan is a serious contender, and a couple of other teams cannot be written off either.
The quarterfinals can be anybody's game. Nandan Bal, coach, Indian Davis Cup Team, feels there are many strong contenders for the title. "I would like to believe that India is a hot favourite still. Though we have had our ups and downs, we haven't peaked as yet. All our matches will be played at home, which will give us an advantage. England, despite having struggled, is capable of showing its true skills. South Africa is like a well-oiled machine," says he.
As India will be playing at home, the boys will have to go beyond their best. Former Bengal captain and national selector, Sambaran Banerjee feels that the Indian team stands a good chance. "India will have to struggle in the quarterfinals . If they can defeat Australia, they will be the chief contender for the Cup. Pakistan has been a bit inconsistent but I have a good feeling about Sri Lanka and South Africa," he says.
Well-known cricketer Hrishikesh Kanitkar believes there are four teams to watch out for: South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. He says, "Both India and Pakistan have played well. Pakistan has shown brilliance on the field. With their win against Australia, it seems like they can beat anybody. Sri Lanka has really stepped up and played as a unit. South Africa has really shaped up. They have played well under pressure."
And when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. "It is difficult to predict the chief contenders since all the teams that have reached the quarterfinals are in good form. Team India has a good chance but the India-Australia match will be a tough one. There will be surprises as well — likeIreland beating England," says cricketer Deep Dasgupta.
