Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat hold the key to India’s Thomas Cup defense

Though Prannoy as India’s No 1 is likely to be rotated and Srikanth will likely get alternated too, this Thomas Cup is the sternest test of big-screen temperament for designated Nos 2 and 3, Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat. Now that India has totally bought into the significance of team events, and is fielding a full-fledged challenge, the pair of under24s in Sen and Rajawat, have their task cut out.

Even in the 2022 edition, the MS1, Sen, had a wretched run right upto the finals owing to illness. Though he was masterly against Thomas Cup perennials Indonesia, beating Anthony Ginting to take the opening point, and effectively shock the white & red brigade out of their wits, pushing them on the defensive, in the finals.

Lakshya Sen will face Indonesian Jonatan Christie in the semifinals. (BAI)

Sen might find a regular MS2 shift a little more arduous, because playing the third match of a tie is the apogee of team events. Make – or – break, do – or – die, must-win, and worse, C A N N O T – L OS E in bold, underlined. Should he be promoted to MS1, it’s the difficulty of the opponent that’s a straightforward challenge, and greater adrenaline for the potential of an upset. He doesn’t always win, far from it, but he sure has the temperament for a Goliath-gnawing tussle.

But MS2 tends to pair up similarly middling ranked talents in No 8 – 20 range, and Sen, though he has the game to take on the best, is susceptible to lapses of concentration against such players. He will need to put in the consistency-shift at MS2. It’s not particularly glorified – he’s expected to not lose, and won’t be revered for winning overtly either, unless he goes 6 played – 6 won like Srikanth did last time around, though Prannoy was pushed into the dramatic deciders. Just going out there, and doing the basics right, can test Sen’s flair and flamboyance in this anchoring role.

Sen had a decent run at the All England, and his confidence should be high. He’s a big occasion player and Thomas Cup and Commonwealth Games titles are proof enough. But can he rev himself up for the near-mundane matchups, with an unfancied second men’s doubles and a non-Prannoy, not entirely dependable MS3 to follow – is the pivot and pivotal question.

While Dhruv Kapila and MR Arjun start as underdogs in most WD2 matchups, Srikanth’s brittle leadup results in pressure games, can see the team try giving Priyanshu Rajawat a go. As such, Srikanth as MS3 is head and shoulders above most counterparts in his classy game, but he will need a good start to convince himself and the world that his confidence is restored. Parupalli Kashyap as coach is a brilliant shepherd to have in such situations, and has spoken of how team causes are what Srikanth loves these days. But should the need arise, Rajawat will need to step up.

India’s Priyanshu Rajawar defeated China’s Lan Xi Lei 21-14, 21-13

For someone dubbed mini SriKi, Rajawat has shown traces of stylish play, but is nowhere close to Srikanth in the achievement metric. The 30-year-old had two impressive titles from Thailand and China by age 23, and could string together excellent runs deep into a tournament, which Rajawat hasn’t yet managed.

Like Sen, there’s enough in Rajawat’s game to start a hype-train. But at the Thomas Cup, in whatever chances he gets, he will need to deliver on those expectations. The ‘promise’, ‘potential’, ‘future hope’ semantics stage is over at an event like Thomas Cup, which is about the now and the present.

Rajawat’s grittiness hasn’t been put to test on the circuit, where the presence of India’s Top 3 gives him the leeway to keep learning from the losses, a long rope so to speak. His outrageous talent ought to be backed.

Kiran George is a sort of an unknown who can be a surprise element once in a while, and he’s mentally sturdier than he lets on. But this is where Sen and Rajawat prove that they deserve to be dubbed replacements to Srikanth, without actually having won his level of titles.

Sen will need to snap out of those reveries he disappears into where points are conceded in a bunch. He will be forced to dig deep for greater variety in overhead strokes from the back court. He is defensively sturdy under pressure and you could back him 9 times out of 10 to win the net eyeball confrontations or flank defense sallies. But his finishing attack from the back court – pulling out the big smash after a punishing rally – isn’t as well-rounded or power-packed, sophisticated or consistent enough to beat likes of Li Shifeng, Anders Antonsen, Anthony Ginting and Kenta Nishimoto on successive days.

At 6-11 down in the third against World No:4 Anders Antonsen, Lakshya Sen was told by coach Vimal Kumar to shut out the ‘silly errors’. Lakshya then went onto to win 15 of the last 17 points and book his place in quarterfinals of the All England. (Badminton Association of India)

Sen’s mental toughness could be as good as if not better than Saina Nehwal. But he will need to tactically be on point, in this MS2 / MS1 role, extracting wins. In that sense, this Thomas Cup is a bigger responsibility than last time when India could absorb the pressure of his MS1 losses with Srikanth, Prannoy lined up to follow. His pure chutzpah beating Ginting in finals will need to be replicated in every tie here.

Rajawat is plain and simple expected to take on the 2-2 tie pressure.

Many squads are likely to blood young talent – Alwi Farhan for Indonesia, Magnus Johannesen for Denmark, Chia Hao Lee, Swiss Open winner Chun Yi-Lin of Taipei and Cheuk Yiu Lee (of Hong Kong) who’s Top 15 and at India Open, beat Srikanth, Kunlavut, Ginting and Kodai. Perhaps a name to watch out for is Thai Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul, age 20, in the MS3 role alongside Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

China, Denmark, Indonesia, Thailand still hold the aces, but India remains a very strong contender with its depth, the reliable presence of Satwik-Chirag and the team’s strategic nous. But Srikanth and Prannoy are two years older than last time. And you can’t shake off the certainty that Lakshya Sen and Priyanshu Rajawat will need to step up this time, and deliver the goods. Sen will need a 6/6 like Srikanth coolly pulled off last time.The Olympics is the ultimate target for both Prannoy and Sen. But it’s at the Thomas Cup, that the passing of the baton – of responsibility – will happen.