Somdev Devvarman slams AITA over Nagal row in open letter

Nagal was sacked from the Indian Davis Cup team, which is scheduled to play New Zealand in February, due to "serious breach of discipline", PTI had reported earlier. An unnamed AITA source was quoted in the article saying that Nagal had finished the mini-bar in his hotel room during India's 2016 Davis Cup tie against Spain which resulted in the youngsters' absence from the morning practice sessions. The source also added that Nagal had brought his girlfriend along for the Spain tie, held in New Delhi, without the permission of the AITA.

"As you were openly bringing bad publicity to our young player Sumit Nagal, one has to wonder, what were you really trying to accomplish there? Were you trying to teach Sumit a lesson? Are you trying to make an example out of him? Are you trying to cover up the bad decision your selection committee made with picking only 5 players for the next Davis cup tie and leaving out our highest ranked player Rohan Bopanna? What is it you're exactly trying to accomplish is my question to you," Devvarman wrote in the letter.

"Is Sumit Nagal perfect? Probably not! He hasn't done things perfectly by any means. But he is a good kid. He is a hard working kid and with the right guidance, he has the potential to be a fantastic player for our country. Just another reminder here that Sumit has DENIED all these allegations made against him," Devvarman added.

"Now if you truly have a problem with a 19-year-old, any sensible mature adult would sit him down in a room with some senior players, the captain and if need be the federation representative and explain to him what is acceptable and what is not. Doing so over a newspaper that's broadcasted throughout the country is hardly a way to teach a young player a lesson. Do you agree with me there? If yes, I once again ask you, what is the real point of your article by the PTI that brings in negative press to Sumit?," asked the now-retired tennis star.