On day two, Vishnu will combine with Divij Sharan against the Kiwi pair of Michael Venus and Artem Sitak in the Asia Oceania Group I relegation play-off tie.
Early morning heavy showers delayed the start of the Davis Cup tie between India and New Zealand in Chandigarh on Friday.
Yuki Bhambri's unconvincing win over New Zealand's Jose Statham has left much to be desired as India's non-playing captain, S P Misra, felt that the country's best singles player did not look focussed in the fourth rubber of the Davis Cup relegation play-off tie.
Yuki Bhambri fought back from the brink of defeat to script a stunning five-set victory over Daniel King Turner and give India a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group I relegation play-off against New Zealand in Chandigarh on Friday. Vishnu Vardhan, ranked 262, was leading 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4 in the second singles against Kiwi No 1 Jose Statham when the latter raised concerns about fading light and play was halted for the day.
Sanam Singh was splendid in his victory after Yuki Bhambri huffed and puffed to a patchy win as India completed a 5-0 rout of New Zealand in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I relegation play-off tie, in Chandigarh on Sunday.
Davis Cupper Ramkumar Ramanathan rallied past New Zealand's Jose Statham to enter the quarter-finals of the US $50,000 ATP Challenger hardcourt tournament, in Binghamton, United States. The 214-ranked Indian, who made his Davis Cup debut last week in Chandigarh against South Korea, won 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) in two hours and 22 minutes.
A lanky Ramkumar cruised to a 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 win in exactly two hours in windy conditions at the Shiv Chatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi.
Yuki Bhambri rescued India with an impressive win following Somdev Devvarman's shock defeat, leaving the visitors locked 1-1 with New Zealand on day one of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tie, in Christchurch on Friday.
A fired up Yuki Bhambri recorded his first ever victory in a live fifth rubber after Somdev Devvarman levelled the scores as India advanced to World Group Play-offs.
World No 10 Rohan Bopanna and Saketh Myneni suffered a shock straight set mauling at the hands of Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniell as India were left trailing 1-2 against New Zealand.
Rohan Bopanna and Saketh Myneni were done in by some 'flawless' tennis played by the Kiwi players according to India coach Zeeshan Ali.
All eyes will be on veteran Leander Paes, who is the on the cusp of a historic world record in perhaps his last appearance in Davis Cup.
Young Yuki Bhambri brought India back in the Davis Cup match against New Zealand after Somdev Devvarman was beaten in the opening singles.
'In my eight ties as captain we won five and lost three to Serbia, Czech Republic and Spain who were all better teams than us. We should have won against Czech but lost 3-2. Having said that they were top 10 teams and I am not too unhappy losing to them'
Leander Paes' hopes of creating a world record in Davis Cup were dashed when the veteran Indian and Vishnu Vardhan lost the third rubber to strong rivals Artem Sitak and Michael Venus, who kept the New Zealand alive in the Asia-Oceania Group I Davis Cup tie.
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