In a massive blow to India’s Sudirman Cup 2025 campaign, top men’s doubles duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have been ruled out due to illness, as confirmed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
The tournament, slated to be held in Xiamen, China from April 27 to May 4, has now become an uphill battle for the Indian contingent.
Squad Reshuffle After SatChi Exit
Following their withdrawal, India has reshuffled its lineup. The men’s doubles responsibility will now lie with the young pairing of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi, while Dhruv Kapila will now play mixed doubles alongside Tanisha Crasto, and Sathish Kumar Karunakaran is set to pair with Aadya Variyath as another mixed option.
Here’s how the revised Indian squad shapes up:
- Men’s Singles: Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy
- Women’s Singles: PV Sindhu, Anupama Upadhyaya
- Men’s Doubles: Hariharan Amsakarunan / Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi
- Women’s Doubles: Shruti Mishra / Priya Konjengbam
- Mixed Doubles: Dhruv Kapila / Tanisha Crasto, Sathish Kumar / Aadya Variyath
Group Tie vs Denmark: Stakes Just Got Higher
India’s opening tie against Denmark was always going to be intense—but now it’s a whole different ball game. Here’s the probable matchup outlook:
- WS (PV Sindhu vs Line Christophersen or Mia Blichfeldt): Edge India
- WD (Shruti/Priya vs Maiken Fruergaard/Amalie Magelund): Slight edge Denmark
- MS (Lakshya or Prannoy vs Axelsen/Antonsen): Highly competitive, tough call
- MD (Hariharan/Ruban vs Astrup/Rasmussen): Clear edge Denmark
- XD (Kapila/Crasto or Sathish/Aadya vs Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje): 50-50
With no Treesa-Gayatri and now no Satwik-Chirag, India enters the tie missing both of its primary doubles combinations—a serious concern in a mixed team format where each match matters equally.
Youth to the Rescue?
This presents a huge opportunity for India’s younger generation to step up on the world stage. While the challenge is immense, it’s also a chance to test depth, blood new partnerships, and build resilience ahead of Paris 2028 and beyond.
This is undoubtedly a setback for India’s Sudirman Cup aspirations, but not a surrender. With veterans like PV Sindhu, gritty singles stars like Lakshya and Prannoy, and a pool of promising youngsters, India will aim to battle through the group stage and spring surprises.
Get well soon SatChi! And to the rest of the squad—play bold, play proud.
