'Bringing Paes, Bhupathi together again a great move'

Former Davis cup captain Naresh Kumar, on Thursday, hoped Indian tennis superstars Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi can set their differences aside and make their chemistry work when Uzbekistan comes calling for the second round of the Asia/Oceania Group 1 Davis Cup tie, beginning on April 7.

Besides the star-duo, the six-member squad also includes singles specialists Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan, along with youngsters N Sriram Balaji and Prajnesh Gunneswaran. It will be further pruned to four, two weeks before the rubber gets off in Bengaluru.

"Of course I welcome the move. They have been fightingbut if they can get together that will be very much better for us."

Asked whether he foresees the camaraderie between the pair who have a Davis Cup record of the longest winning streak in doubles, with 23 straight wins, rekindling again in the twilight of their careers, Kumar said if you're not pals off the court, it is difficult to strike a chord on it. "They say that when they get together their chemistry works. You can say what you like. If you're not friends, to make chemistry on the court is not easy. But maybe they are special."

Known as the "Indian Express", Paes and Bhupathi have an enviable 303-103 career record together.On December 22 last year, Bhupathi, 42, was made the successor of Anand Amritraj as India's next non-playing Davis Cup captain.

"Look at the knowledge they have. Bhupathi has a beautiful backhand which he can teach. Sania (Mirza) can teach them her forehand. Paes can't teach anybody because he is specially gifted. He is endowed by a gift which he can show them but may not be able to give," was Kumar's take on the veterans being brought back to tutor the youngsters in the Davis Cup.

"We have to have better players. And this new lot that has come in with the tested, the likes of (Saketh) Myneni and others."

Asked how long will Paes, 43, continue playing, Kumar said he is stilling winning the crucial points in mixed doubles and that is still his greatest quality.

"It's a very difficult question. If you watch Leander's mixed doubles matches, and you watch closely he will win the crucial points. You have to have panache to be still

doing that, and confidence. The other boys maybe better players, but on the crucial occasion

this fellow is putting his neck forward. So that's his greatest quality," he said.