Yuki Bhambri produced a spirited fight before losing the must-win reverse singles against Jiri Vesely as India conceded an unassailable 1-3 lead against the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup World Group play-off on Sunday.
Bhambri fought gallantly in the do-or-die fourth rubber before losing 3-6, 5-7, 2-6 to the 40th ranked Czech after battling for two hours and 12 minutes at the R.K Khanna Stadium.
India needed to win both the matches today after Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna suffered a rare defeat against the Czech pair of Radek Stepanek and Adam Pavlasek in the doubles yesterday.
Earlier on Friday, India had leveled against the world's top team, when Somdev Devvarman claimed a 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-3 win over Vesely in the second rubber contest.
Devvarman will now take on Lukas Rosol in the fifth rubber.
