India's Yuki Bhambri is a doubtful starter for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Korea in Seoul after suffering a strain in his right leg during practice ahead of his US Open main-draw match, dealing a potential blow to India's hopes in the crucial tie.
India captain Rohit Rajpal described Bhambri's injury as a "huge setback", with the doubles specialist's availability still uncertain ahead of the tie.
Bhambri did not travel to Seoul with the first batch of Indian players that departed on Thursday night, further raising questions over whether he will be fit to compete.
The 32-year-old, however, has played down concerns surrounding the injury, describing it as a minor strain. He has also indicated that the problem is not expected to affect his participation at the Asian Games later this month.
Bhambri's potential absence would be a concern for India, particularly given the importance of the tie. The winner of the contest against Korea will secure a place in the elite eight-team Davis Cup Finals.
Rajpal and the Indian team management will therefore have to assess Bhambri's fitness before finalising the line-up for the Seoul encounter.
For India, the tie represents an important opportunity to advance to the Davis Cup Finals, but Bhambri's fitness has emerged as a key uncertainty ahead of the contest.
The Indian camp is expected to monitor the player's recovery closely before making a final decision on his availability.
