New Delhi: As India takes on Australia in the World Group qualifying match of the Davis Cup tennis tournament, the focus will be as much on the younger players as on the ageing spearhead Leander Paes.

Mahesh Bhupathi has pulled out of the tie citing sore shoulders after winning the US Open doubles title recently, and who will take his place to partner Paes in the crucial tie will be known on Thursday when the draw is to be made.

Bhupathi's withdrawal means India's chances against the Aussies, who are ranked second, has further diminished. Probably it could be a cakewalk for Lleyton Hewitt and Co. but it could very well prove to be a baptism by fire for the younger brigade who are ready take over from the big boys of Indian tennis.

Harsh Mankad and Vishal Uppal are the two next in experience to Paes. Harsh, son of former Test cricketer Ashok Mankad from Mumbai has three Davis Cup wins under his belt while Uppal will be remembered for his doubles match with Paes against Korea in 1999.

But the spotlight will be very much on Rohan Bopanna, and to a lesser extent on Sunil Kumar Sipaeya. The two were identified as promising talents by the All India Tennis Association early this year and enjoy AITA's financial support.

"Playing the likes of Hewitt and Arthurs is obviously going to be a great experience because you are against a player who is number one in the world and has won Grand Slams. So it's really going to be a great experience," says Bopanna. His 405th world ranking makes him the number one Indian.

Born and brought up in Coorg, Karnataka, Bopanna was introduced to tennis by his parents who played the game at the club level. In Pune he came under the tutelage of Nandan Bal.

After a five-year stint there, he returned to Bangalore where he has ever since been training with C G K Bhupathi Academy. It is this association with Bhupathi Academy that could prove instrumental in his success. Mahesh's strength in returns and double-fisted backhand are well known and he could impart the same to the youngster.

"When I joined the team for the first time against Lebanon, Mahesh was playing only doubles. So at the moment it is the same, only thing is I might get to play doubles with Leander," he says philosophically.

Sipaeya grabbed everyone's attention when he won the national junior title in 1999 and the Asian Junior Championship last year. But the transition from the juniors to the men's circuit was a struggle.

This year has seen him return to his winning ways as he reached the finals of an ITF tournament in Canada and won the first circuit title last month in Delhi.

Sipaeya though might not get to play in Adelaide but the very fact that he is with the team has keyed him up. "Travelling with the Davis Cup team is really fun, and this is my second time after I was with the team two years ago. I am happy I made it to the team again," he says.

The Indian team is badly in need of such young blood if it hopes to overcome top teams like Australia. The withdrawal of Bhupathi may very well make way for a brighter star of Indian tennis in the years to come.

PTI