Prakash Amritraj will take on Adrian Cruciat in the opening rubber while the in-form Somdev Devvarman faces Romanian No 1 Victor Hanescu in the crucial World Group play-off tie, in Bucharest, which commences on Friday. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi meet Cruciat and Horia Tecau in the doubles.
India's Davis Cup coach Nandan Bal says despite losing in both his matches, Somdev Devvarman was the find of the tie against Romania.
Victor Hanescu and Victor Crivoi beat Somdev Devvarman and Prakash Amritraj respectively to give Romania a decisive 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup play-off match. Hanescu thundered his way to a 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 win over young Devvarman after Crivoi had got past an erratic Amritraj 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the first singles of the day.