Indian Davis Cup squad which will compete against New Zealand in the Asia Oceania Group I in Chandigarh will have a new look as it is without the stalwarts Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi.

And not only that the team does not even feature other two seniors -- Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna. While Bhupathi and Bopanna have been axed by the All India Tennis Federation for showing dissent during the Olympic team selection, Paes and Somdev made themselves unavailable citing different reasons.

While it might now seem as a herculean job for the young team spearheaded by Olympian Vishnu Vardhan and Yuki Bhambri, but then in a sense, it can be termed as a new beginning for Indian Tennis.

Apart from these two, the team comprises of Sanam Singh, Divij Sharan, Saketh Myneni and N Sri Ram Balaji. None of them might possess the experience or the stardom of Paes and Bhupathi but then it is right time that the baton is passed over to the youngsters.

Not always will these senior players play for the country and someday the juniors will have to step up and nothing can be better than to test their nerves on their home side against a relatively easy opponent. There are chances that Paes and Somdev might comeback in the later stages of the Davis Cup but it would be an ideal ground to test where India’s young brigade stand.

Taking into consideration their performance from the past it can be said that they do have it in them to make it to the higher stage and should get proper exposure to high intensity matches. And it also serves the players a perfect platform to deliver the goods and prove that they are ready for the next level.

Sharan few days back breached the top 100 in ATP doubles rankings, Vishnu played very well in Olympics teaming with Paes.

So to sum it up, the senior players missing out on the tie is a blessing for disguise for the tennis fraternity. It is perhaps the right time that these youngsters are groomed and prepare them for higher endeavours.

By Indian Sports News Network