Nagal-Somdev spark a players vs AITA storm: Will Indian tennis finally see reform?

A stunning Davis Cup debacle, an ugly blame game between players and the AITA, and a searing court battle – these are just three basic symptoms of the unprecedented crisis that has gripped Indian tennis over the past two weeks.

Despite its rich history, Indian tennis has often seen conflicts between players and the governing body, the All India Tennis Association (AITA). This struggle has reached a boiling point, with the latest showdown sparked by top Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal and former ace Somdev Devvarman. At the heart of this feud is the worsening relationship between players and tennis administrators which has underlined the rot in the AITA and raised grave questions about its management of the sport.

India’s defeat to Sweden exposed deep cracks

The immediate catalyst for this storm was India’s crushing 0-4 defeat to Sweden in the Davis Cup two weeks ago, which exposed deep cracks in the nation’s tennis programme. Far from analysing the loss and working to improve future performances, the AITA quickly placed the blame on the players. Three of the country’s top players – Sumit Nagal, Sasikumar Mukund, and Yuki Bhambri – had stayed away from the Sweden contest.

In particular, the AITA bosses targeted India’s top-ranked singles player Nagal, who abstained from the tie on medical grounds. They even alleged that Nagal had demanded money to play in the Davis Cup.

This mischievous accusation, compounded by whispers in the media that Nagal had prioritised personal gain over national duty, added fuel to the fire. The AITA’s actions seemed an obvious attempt to deflect attention from its own shortcomings and shift the narrative onto Nagal’s supposed “lack of commitment” to the nation’s cause.

Nagal hits back at AITA

Known for his hard work and resilience, Nagal soon hit back. Besides defending his decision to skip the match due to injury, he clarified that his demand for financial compensation was a matter of professional respect and security. In an Instagram post, Nagal claimed it was a tough call for him to withdraw from the Davis Cup, but he didn't want to jeopardise his health and affect the team's chances by participating with an injury. He also asserted that he informed the AITA well in advance about his decision, which was not taken for any monetary gain.

Growing outrage from players’ fraternity

The players’ fraternity is angry at the AITA’s attempt to blame current stars for the Davis Cup fiasco and there’s growing outrage at the effort to tarnish Nagal’s reputation. Many players - both past and present - have taken to social media to slam AITA’s antics. Former stars Devvarman and Purav Raja soon joined Nagal on a sharp podcast. The trio exposed a range of issues – from the lack of trust between players and officials; to coaches dozing off during Davis Cup ties even as players compete on court; to AITA officials treating Davis Cup games as a “Holiday Week”; to the shabby state of the National Tennis Centre in Delhi.

Most prominent figures in Indian tennis are demanding an overhaul in the structure of the sport in the country. Rohan Bopanna recently called for a “cultural shift in the sport” and suggested several steps to recast Indian tennis. Former player Vishnu Vardhan has outlined a “comprehensive plan” on X (formerly Twitter) to reform the AITA-dominated system.

Even superstar Mahesh Bhupathi has asserted that “Sumit Nagal had a medical issue but to see him being accused of not wanting to play for India is plain unfair. This has gone on for years. Unless things change, there is only one loser and that’s Indian tennis.”

Rohit Rajpal lashes out at critics

While steps to improve Indian tennis remain missing, an outburst from Rohit Rajpal, India’s non-playing Davis Cup captain, reflects the gravity of the current crisis. Angry at suggestions that he should make way for some of India’s former players to steer the side after the rout by Sweden, Rajpal lashed out at his critics and asked them to “shut up” about his abilities as captain.

Far from answering questions on his dubious decisions (like playing N Sriram Balaji in the singles despite him being a doubles expert), Rajpal asserted, “Since the time I took over, these guys have always been trying to say something negative to provoke me…To all these people, I want to say one thing - SHUT UP. And 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!”

Somdev, Purav Raja take AITA to court

Beyond this bitter slanging match, just days ago, Somdev and Purav Raja dragged the AITA to court. Challenging the upcoming AITA elections in the Delhi High Court, the duo has filed a PIL accusing the federation of violating rules and engaging in corrupt practices. Their chief grouse is that despite being a signatory to the National Sports Code, AITA has failed to provide any seat/space for players in the central council or in its executive body. Claiming that “accountability and transparency are essential for Indian tennis to rise from the shocking low it has currently fallen to”, Devvarman asserts he was forced to take action against the AITA’s “broken system” as it threatens to push Indian tennis into complete disarray.

Heart of the crisis

The exclusion of players from key decision-making roles is at the heart of the crisis. Without a seat at the table, players feel marginalised and powerless to influence the direction of the sport in India. The PIL by Devvarman and Raja argues that the AITA has not only ignored the Sports Code but has actively resisted the involvement of players who could offer valuable insights into improving Indian tennis.

The question of player representation in the governance of Indian tennis is a critical aspect of the current debate. In many successful tennis nations, former players hold key positions within their respective associations, helping to shape policies and programmes based on their first-hand experience. This player-administrator synergy has been crucial in countries like Spain and the United States, where the development of talent is more structured and responsive to the needs of athletes.

India’s finest players have no say

In contrast, India has virtually given no role to its finest players in the quest for improving tennis in the country. Despite pleas by superstars like Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna, Somdev Devvarman, and Sania Mirza, who have all competed at the highest levels, they are generally sidelined from decision-making roles and their calls for reform have been royally ignored by the AITA.

The storm sparked by Nagal and Devvarman presents an opportunity to address the long-standing issues of governance and player-development in Indian tennis. The Davis Cup defeat may be the immediate trigger, but the real debate is about accountability, transparency, and the role of players in shaping the future of Indian tennis. For the sport to rise from its present nadir, the AITA must embrace reform and rebuild trust with its athletes. If solutions are identified and implemented on priority, there could well be a silver lining to the dark cloud currently over-shadowing Indian tennis!