Yuki Bhambri, who played and lost his first live rubber on Friday, pulled off a rare upset of Uzbek No. 1 and world No. 43 Denis Istomin, 67(1) 76(3) 76(3) in two hours 39 minutes.

The 19-year-old Bhambri, ranked No. 295, inflicted Istomin’s first defeat at home in six years, albeit in a dead rubber. (That 2006 loss, against Danai Udomochoke of Thailand, remains Istomin’s only loss in a live rubber on home soil.)

Rohan Bopanna, a replacement for Sanam Singh, who came down with chicken pox and was hospitalised after losing the first rubber against Istomin, backed up from his doubles loss to defeat Sarvar Ikramov 62 67(0) 61.

Uzbekistan advance to their sixth World Group play-off in September. The Central Asian nation has never made the 16-nation elite group since it joined Davis Cup in 1994. The Uzbeks, though, must fancy their chances in a home tie. The win over India lifted their Davis Cup success rate in Namangan to 5-0.