In the squad of six, five play doubles quite well and in the absence of the battle-hardened pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, it would quite a task to pick the right combination for the tie starting on Friday.
Reserve player Divij Sharan is the highest-ranked player in doubles at 94 and has won two Challengers this season. Vishnu Vardhan has also shown his class at the London Olympics in the elite company of Leander Paes.
Yuki Bhambri has figured consistently in the Challenger doubles and Sanam Singh is an Asian Games doubles gold medallist.
Bal said Saketh Myneni too has a big serve and has been playing well in the camp so ultimately it would boil down to whose fitness is best in hot conditions.
"The conditions are hot and muggy. It might happen that two players play singles on day one and then two different players play doubles on day two. It will also depend on fitness of the players. We are keeping a watch," Bal told PTI.
"All six are in the mix. It is all in the open. We are trying different combinations everyday," he added before heading for the practice session with the team. MORE
