Ramkumar Ramanathan helped India take 1-0 lead against Pakistan with a 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-0 win over Aisam-ul-Haq in Davis Cup World Group I playoff tie in Islamabad on Saturday.
It was a closely-contested till the second set but Aisam faced fitness issues in the third set and also took a medical timeout.
Ramanathan took full advantage of Aisam’s fitness and bageled his opponent in third set to clinch the match.
Two singles fixtures are scheduled for Saturday with one doubles and two singles matches on Sunday in the Group 1 playoff on the grass courts of the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad.
Aqeel Khan will face Sriram Balaji in the second match today.
The last tie between the two countries took place in neutral Kazakhstan in 2014 with India winning 4-0.
"The Indian team just reaching Pakistan is already a win for me," Qureshi said.
"I'm happy and proud to be a part of it -- that tennis might play a role in mending the ties with India."
India are the strong favourites on paper, but both camps said they expected a competitive clash.
Indian captain Zeeshan Ali, whose father was part of the 1964 team, described coming to Pakistan as "emotional".
"The last time India played against Pakistan 60 years ago my father was on the team and he played three of the matches which he won," Ali said.
"For me to be back here in Pakistan as captain of the Indian team is an emotional moment."
Ali added that he hoped the tie would prove positive for tennis.
"If we can help in any way to spread good friendship and the game of tennis then we would have achieved our goal."