Bengaluru – Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran handed India a 2-0 lead over Uzbekistan as they staved off a spirited challenge in their respective singles matches in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie at the KSLTA courts here yesterday.

In the first match, 267th ranked Ramanathan overcame Temur Isamilov 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5, while debutant Gunneswaran, ranked 187, outwitted Sanjar Fayzieb 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Ismailov is ranked 406, while Fayzieb was played in place of Denis Istomin, who had pulled out of the second round tie due to a foot injury.

To his credit, Ismailov made life difficult for the Indian despite suffering cramps in his right hamstring.