Almaty (Kazakhstan): Leander Paes once again proved to be India's talisman as he helped the side pull off a narrow 3-2 victory against Kazakhstan in the Davis Cup zonal relegation play-off in Almaty on Sunday.
Captain Paes, no longer a regular singles player, came out in place of young Karan Rastogi in the final rubber and beat the lowly ranked Dmitry Makeyev 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to give India a nail-biting win.
The result ensured India stayed in Asia-Oceania Group 1 next year. The team lost 4-1 to Uzbekistan in the group's first round tie in February.
Earlier in the day, Kazakhstan drew level with the visitors after their No. 1 player Alexey Kedriouk beat Rohan Bopanna in the first reverse singles.
Bopanna came back strongly after losing the first two sets but Kedriouk held his nerve in the decider to win in five sets, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4 at Baganashil Sports Complex.
Paes and Bopanna had won the crucial doubles rubber on Saturday to put India 2-1 up.
Bopanna beat Makeyev while Rastogi lost to Kedriouk in the opening singles on Friday.
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