India’s non-playing Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal on Saturday clarified that his ‘shut up’ call was for the sake of some people who are constantly targeting him for their agenda and not for the country’s tennis community as is being projected. Rajpal said in an interview to PTI that those questioning his eligibility as Davis Cup captain should do their research and he is not one of those people who will continue in the post if the players do not want him to.
Rajpal, who generally stays away from controversies, was instrumental in India’s 0-0 loss to Sweden in the last Davis Cup match in Stockholm. He was embroiled in controversy after telling his critics to ‘shut up’ after the 4-match defeat. Rajpal, 54, admitted that he should not have reacted that way when he was provoked while talking to the media.
Speaking at PTI headquarters, he said, “I myself am a part of the Indian tennis community. I am associated with so many things. Tennis is my life and I would never dream of saying something like this to the Indian tennis community. Why would I do that?
Rajpal said, ‘I cannot even think of disrespecting anyone like this but I should not have reacted like this. But the question was asked in such a bad way and I felt humiliated as my team was sitting with me.” He said he knew who wanted to oust him but would not take names.
uHe said, “I felt bad that a person puts things in the wrong perspective and no one even goes and tries to know the truth.” Rajpal became the captain in 2019 when the then captain Mahesh Bhupathi refused to go to Pakistan due to security reasons. was declined. Questions were raised about his eligibility at the time of his appointment as he had played the only Davis Cup match in his career against Korea in 1990. He was part of the bronze medal winning team at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games.
Asked whether he was eligible to captain India in the Davis Cup, Rajpal said, “This decision is taken by the executive committee.” There are many people in it who know tennis and have been in sports administration for many years and they take balanced decisions. Others are my players. The day I feel that the players feel that someone else can do a better job, I will step down myself. I don’t need to tell you. I am ready for this even today.