India will host Italy on grass in the Qualifiers for the Davis Cup Finals at South Club in Kolkata on February 1-2, the national tennis federation said Tuesday. Kolkata was chosen as the venue only after the All India Tennis Association (AITA) secured two key exemptions from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The rules require that World Group and Play-off ties be played at a venue where the space behind the baseline is 27 feet and there is a seating capacity of 4000. Only DLTA and the centre court at MSLTA fulfil the two requirements but they do not have grass courts.