Billie Jean King Cup 2026: Injury-hit India look to ride on home support to reach playoffs The players and venue will be different but India would be hoping to repeat its result from the last year when the team takes on Thailand in its opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup at the DLTA Stadium starting Tuesday.
The six-team Asia/Oceania Group I competition, to be played in a single round-robin format, will be the second straight year India will be hosting the event. India finished second behind New Zealand in Pune in 2025 to advance to the playoffs and will be hoping to do so again. It won’t be easy, however, with Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who went unbeaten in all her five matches last year and was even awarded the BJK Heart award for her performances, out with injury.
New Zealand, Thailand and Korea have returned this year along with Mongolia and Indonesia. The Indonesians are expected to be tough opponents while Mongolia is an unknown quantity that team captain and former Davis Cupper Vishal Uppal is wary of.
While Shrivalli pulled out with a back spasm, reserve player Vaidehee Chaudhari injured her ankle during training on Thursday. But Uppal insisted there was enough depth in the team without revealing his team combinations. Zeel Desai has been called up as a replacement, the 27-year-old withdrawing from the semifinals of the $15000 ITF event in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to join the side at the last minute.
Newly-crowned top-ranked Indian Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalappalli, Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale complete the side with the last two, the most experienced, expected to shoulder the doubles challenge leaving the singles to the youngsters. “I’m happy having a problem picking players for a tie than one where I don’t have players, that’s a good problem to have, it tells you there’s depth,” Uppal said on the eve of the competition.
India’s biggest challenge will be from Indonesia, led by the highest-ranked player in the field World No. 41 Janice Tjen and doubles specialist Aldila Sutjiadi, and New Zealand, who remain a threat with doubles specialist Erin Routliffe in their despite the absence of Lulu Sun.
Fixtures
India vs Thailand (centre court), New Zealand vs Indonesia (court 1), Mongolia vs Korea (court 2).
Published on Apr 06, 2026
#Billie #Jean #King #Cup #Injuryhit #India #ride #home #support #reach #playoffs
The players and venue will be different but India would be hoping to repeat its result from the last year when the team takes on Thailand in its opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup at the DLTA Stadium starting Tuesday.
The six-team Asia/Oceania Group I competition, to be played in a single round-robin format, will be the second straight year India will be hosting the event. India finished second behind New Zealand in Pune in 2025 to advance to the playoffs and will be hoping to do so again. It won’t be easy, however, with Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who went unbeaten in all her five matches last year and was even awarded the BJK Heart award for her performances, out with injury.
New Zealand, Thailand and Korea have returned this year along with Mongolia and Indonesia. The Indonesians are expected to be tough opponents while Mongolia is an unknown quantity that team captain and former Davis Cupper Vishal Uppal is wary of.
While Shrivalli pulled out with a back spasm, reserve player Vaidehee Chaudhari injured her ankle during training on Thursday. But Uppal insisted there was enough depth in the team without revealing his team combinations. Zeel Desai has been called up as a replacement, the 27-year-old withdrawing from the semifinals of the $15000 ITF event in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to join the side at the last minute.
Newly-crowned top-ranked Indian Vaishnavi Adkar, Sahaja Yamalappalli, Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale complete the side with the last two, the most experienced, expected to shoulder the doubles challenge leaving the singles to the youngsters. “I’m happy having a problem picking players for a tie than one where I don’t have players, that’s a good problem to have, it tells you there’s depth,” Uppal said on the eve of the competition.
India’s biggest challenge will be from Indonesia, led by the highest-ranked player in the field World No. 41 Janice Tjen and doubles specialist Aldila Sutjiadi, and New Zealand, who remain a threat with doubles specialist Erin Routliffe in their despite the absence of Lulu Sun.
Fixtures
India vs Thailand (centre court), New Zealand vs Indonesia (court 1), Mongolia vs Korea (court 2).
Published on Apr 06, 2026
![National Championship Bet Pick: Why Michigan Has the Edge Over UConn | Deadspin.com Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) high fives forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during the second half in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Michigan Wolverines will face the UConn Huskies in the Finals. It’s a surprise that UConn is playing for the championship, but Michigan’s dominance in the Final Four might be the bigger surprise.The Wolverines have been the best team in the tournament, and it hasn’t been particularly close. They’re winning their games by an average of 21.6 points per game. They’re also coming off a dominant win over Arizona, who was generally viewed as the second-best team in the Final Four.The Huskies haven’t been as dominant in their path, but they have some elite wins. Their comeback against Duke was one of the best comebacks in March Madness history. They also [more-or-less] dominated Illinois in the Final Four, although they only won by 9 points.Simply put, this should be a mismatch everywhere in favor of Michigan.Why Michigan should winUConn relies heavily on Tarris Reed to manufacture points. He’s likely to struggle against Aday Mara, who boasts elite size at the center position.The key for Michigan is that it’ll be nearly impossible for UConn to win the foul battle at the center position. If Reed gets Mara into foul trouble, they’ll simply move Morez Johnson, then Yaxel Lendeborg, to slow Reed down. They have plenty of bodies, along with an elite defensive scheme to stop Reed from running their offense.On the other side, Mara is outstanding at drawing fouls as well. Johnson and Lendeborg are two more bigs who can draw fouls. All of this makes it difficult for UConn to have an edge in their best spot on the floor. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ The other key here is that opponents need to be able to shoot to beat this Michigan defense. That isn’t where UConn is at their best. They’re shooting under 35% from deep on the season, and they haven’t been able to consistently hit shots. Still, they do have several options who come with upside, and they could find success if someone unexpected catches fire.The final aspect here is that Dusty May is currently coaching at the highest level we’ve seen in recent seasons. Dan Hurley is also one of the best coaches in the NCAA, but I believe May has a slight edge over him at this point.This is a wide spread for a Championship game, but I prefer every aspect of Michigan over UConn at this point.Where to Bet: Michigan -6.5 spread | -112 at DraftKings Sportsbook2025-26 CBB Season Betting Record: 10-10 Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ #National #Championship #Bet #Pick #Michigan #Edge #UConn #Deadspin.com](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1775483842153 "National Championship Bet Pick: Why Michigan Has the Edge Over UConn | Deadspin.com Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) high fives forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during the second half in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Michigan Wolverines will face the UConn Huskies in the Finals. It’s a surprise that UConn is playing for the championship, but Michigan’s dominance in the Final Four might be the bigger surprise.The Wolverines have been the best team in the tournament, and it hasn’t been particularly close. They’re winning their games by an average of 21.6 points per game. They’re also coming off a dominant win over Arizona, who was generally viewed as the second-best team in the Final Four.The Huskies haven’t been as dominant in their path, but they have some elite wins. Their comeback against Duke was one of the best comebacks in March Madness history. They also [more-or-less] dominated Illinois in the Final Four, although they only won by 9 points.Simply put, this should be a mismatch everywhere in favor of Michigan.Why Michigan should winUConn relies heavily on Tarris Reed to manufacture points. He’s likely to struggle against Aday Mara, who boasts elite size at the center position.The key for Michigan is that it’ll be nearly impossible for UConn to win the foul battle at the center position. If Reed gets Mara into foul trouble, they’ll simply move Morez Johnson, then Yaxel Lendeborg, to slow Reed down. They have plenty of bodies, along with an elite defensive scheme to stop Reed from running their offense.On the other side, Mara is outstanding at drawing fouls as well. Johnson and Lendeborg are two more bigs who can draw fouls. All of this makes it difficult for UConn to have an edge in their best spot on the floor. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ The other key here is that opponents need to be able to shoot to beat this Michigan defense. That isn’t where UConn is at their best. They’re shooting under 35% from deep on the season, and they haven’t been able to consistently hit shots. Still, they do have several options who come with upside, and they could find success if someone unexpected catches fire.The final aspect here is that Dusty May is currently coaching at the highest level we’ve seen in recent seasons. Dan Hurley is also one of the best coaches in the NCAA, but I believe May has a slight edge over him at this point.This is a wide spread for a Championship game, but I prefer every aspect of Michigan over UConn at this point.Where to Bet: Michigan -6.5 spread | -112 at DraftKings Sportsbook2025-26 CBB Season Betting Record: 10-10 Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ #National #Championship #Bet #Pick #Michigan #Edge #UConn #Deadspin.com")
![National Championship Bet Pick: Why Michigan Has the Edge Over UConn | Deadspin.com Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) high fives forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during the second half in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Michigan Wolverines will face the UConn Huskies in the Finals. It’s a surprise that UConn is playing for the championship, but Michigan’s dominance in the Final Four might be the bigger surprise.The Wolverines have been the best team in the tournament, and it hasn’t been particularly close. They’re winning their games by an average of 21.6 points per game. They’re also coming off a dominant win over Arizona, who was generally viewed as the second-best team in the Final Four.The Huskies haven’t been as dominant in their path, but they have some elite wins. Their comeback against Duke was one of the best comebacks in March Madness history. They also [more-or-less] dominated Illinois in the Final Four, although they only won by 9 points.Simply put, this should be a mismatch everywhere in favor of Michigan.Why Michigan should winUConn relies heavily on Tarris Reed to manufacture points. He’s likely to struggle against Aday Mara, who boasts elite size at the center position.The key for Michigan is that it’ll be nearly impossible for UConn to win the foul battle at the center position. If Reed gets Mara into foul trouble, they’ll simply move Morez Johnson, then Yaxel Lendeborg, to slow Reed down. They have plenty of bodies, along with an elite defensive scheme to stop Reed from running their offense.On the other side, Mara is outstanding at drawing fouls as well. Johnson and Lendeborg are two more bigs who can draw fouls. All of this makes it difficult for UConn to have an edge in their best spot on the floor. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ The other key here is that opponents need to be able to shoot to beat this Michigan defense. That isn’t where UConn is at their best. They’re shooting under 35% from deep on the season, and they haven’t been able to consistently hit shots. Still, they do have several options who come with upside, and they could find success if someone unexpected catches fire.The final aspect here is that Dusty May is currently coaching at the highest level we’ve seen in recent seasons. Dan Hurley is also one of the best coaches in the NCAA, but I believe May has a slight edge over him at this point.This is a wide spread for a Championship game, but I prefer every aspect of Michigan over UConn at this point.Where to Bet: Michigan -6.5 spread | -112 at DraftKings Sportsbook2025-26 CBB Season Betting Record: 10-10 Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ #National #Championship #Bet #Pick #Michigan #Edge #UConn #Deadspin.com](https://i2.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1775483842153?ssl=1 "National Championship Bet Pick: Why Michigan Has the Edge Over UConn | Deadspin.com Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) high fives forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during the second half in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Michigan Wolverines will face the UConn Huskies in the Finals. It’s a surprise that UConn is playing for the championship, but Michigan’s dominance in the Final Four might be the bigger surprise.The Wolverines have been the best team in the tournament, and it hasn’t been particularly close. They’re winning their games by an average of 21.6 points per game. They’re also coming off a dominant win over Arizona, who was generally viewed as the second-best team in the Final Four.The Huskies haven’t been as dominant in their path, but they have some elite wins. Their comeback against Duke was one of the best comebacks in March Madness history. They also [more-or-less] dominated Illinois in the Final Four, although they only won by 9 points.Simply put, this should be a mismatch everywhere in favor of Michigan.Why Michigan should winUConn relies heavily on Tarris Reed to manufacture points. He’s likely to struggle against Aday Mara, who boasts elite size at the center position.The key for Michigan is that it’ll be nearly impossible for UConn to win the foul battle at the center position. If Reed gets Mara into foul trouble, they’ll simply move Morez Johnson, then Yaxel Lendeborg, to slow Reed down. They have plenty of bodies, along with an elite defensive scheme to stop Reed from running their offense.On the other side, Mara is outstanding at drawing fouls as well. Johnson and Lendeborg are two more bigs who can draw fouls. All of this makes it difficult for UConn to have an edge in their best spot on the floor. Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ The other key here is that opponents need to be able to shoot to beat this Michigan defense. That isn’t where UConn is at their best. They’re shooting under 35% from deep on the season, and they haven’t been able to consistently hit shots. Still, they do have several options who come with upside, and they could find success if someone unexpected catches fire.The final aspect here is that Dusty May is currently coaching at the highest level we’ve seen in recent seasons. Dan Hurley is also one of the best coaches in the NCAA, but I believe May has a slight edge over him at this point.This is a wide spread for a Championship game, but I prefer every aspect of Michigan over UConn at this point.Where to Bet: Michigan -6.5 spread | -112 at DraftKings Sportsbook2025-26 CBB Season Betting Record: 10-10 Our Current Best Offers1UnderdogClaim your Special Pick via Code + First Time Deposit up to $250 in bonus!T&Cs apply, 18+2ParlayPlay100% up to $100T&Cs apply, 18+3OwnersBox100% up to $500T&Cs apply, 18+4FanDuel Fantasy$65 value with just a $10+ depositT&Cs apply, 18+ #National #Championship #Bet #Pick #Michigan #Edge #UConn #Deadspin.com")
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