"Shut up" - Rohit Rajpal shots back at critics after India's Davis Cup loss

The ongoing Davis Cup turned out to be a big disappointment for India, where the team endured a 5-0 defeat against Sweden. The loss resulted in India being relegated to the World Group I playoffs, which will be played next year. Ahead of the season, India faced the exit of Sumit Nagal and Yuki Bhambri from the tie, with Nagal dealing with a back strain following his early exit from the US Open. As a result, India, under the captaincy of Rohit Rajpal, fielded N Sriram Balaji and Ramkumar Ramanathan in the tie, along with Siddharth Vishwakarma. Now, after India’s dismal performance, Rohit Rajpal has become the target of fans' criticism.

Indian captain at Davis Cup, Rohit Rajpal lashes out at critics

Former Indian tennis player Rohit Rajpal captained India in the Davis Cup. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, the team suffered five defeats against Sweden. N Sriram Balaji and Ramkumar Ramanathan lost their individual matches before being knocked out of the doubles match on Sunday. The subpar effort from India has faced considerable ire from tennis fans. Moreover, India’s captain, Rajpal, has been criticized for placing N Sriram Balaji in the singles fixture, despite Sriram’s expertise lying in doubles settings.

Following India’s 0-4 defeat to Sweden in Stockholm, Rajpal faced scrutiny from a reporter who grilled him over his decisions. After India’s loss in the Davis Cup, Balaji himself later admitted that he was "not really comfortable playing singles." However, Rajpal did not react kindly to the queries. The former player went on to ask the critics to ‘shut up’ as he shot back at the reporter.

“Since the time I took over, these guys (fans) have always been trying to say something negative to provoke or to get some reaction out of me. If my players feel otherwise, I’m a very open person. They are very welcome to say things. But I’m here for my country, ready to do whatever it takes. Even during the Pakistan tie, my mother was in the ICU, but I was still on court,” said Rajpal.

“So I’m here to do my national duties. To all these people, I want to say one thing today – SHUT UP. And the second thing, if you really care that much, don’t sit in your air-conditioned rooms and talk. Get out here and show what you can do,” he further exclaimed.

India’s loss to Sweden on Sunday, September 15, extended their losing streak to six consecutive defeats against the European team in Davis Cup history. With this defeat, India will now move to the World Group I Play-offs next year, while Sweden progresses to the 2025 Qualifiers. Moreover, India’s defeat drew a reaction from Rohan Bopanna, who recently enjoyed his national duties. Bopanna, in his tweet, urged for better tennis infrastructure in the country.