Brilliant comeback from Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan in the doubles gave India a much-needed point on Saturday morning when they beat the Italian pair of Simone Bolelli-Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 103 minutes.

The joy, however, barely lasted half an hour when Prajnesh Gunneswaran lost the first set 1-6 to experienced Andreas Seppi in the first of the return singles. Seppi clinically finished the tie, winning the second set 6-4 and earning Italy a place in the Davis Cup World Finals, to be held at Madrid in November.