In complete contrast to Bhambri, Ramkumar played with a lot of passion against the 2014 US Open champion and a Wimbledon finalist in 2017 before bowing out with a 4-6, 3-6 defeat in his second round.
With a hard earned win against compatriot Matthew Ebden, the fiery Australian has set up a quarterfinal clash against former Brisbane International runner-up Alexandr Dolgopolov, who beat Horacio Zeballos 6-1, 6-2 in the second round.
The win came before a record crowd of 13,943 at Perth Arena, an attendance which eclipsed one of Federer's matches last year in the Western Australia state capital.
Ostapenko, who beat Serena Williams in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, was overwhelmed by Kristyna Pliskova's powerful serves during the match.
Muguruza lasted three games in the third set before being stopped by the cramps after almost 2 ½ hours in humid conditions on Pat Rafter Arena, giving Aleksandra Krunic a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 1-2 retired, victory.
Murray was seeded No. 2 in Brisbane, where he'd been expecting to play his first competitive match since a quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon.
While Cilic will be the outright favourite in the next match, Ramkumar had a confidence-boosting win over world number eight Dominic Thiem at Antalya Open last season.
The injuries threatened to end the careers of two greats towards the end of 2016, a year in which neither the Swiss great nor the Spanish giant won a Grand Slam but they came out stronger in 2017, splitting all four Majors between them.
The five-time major winner will next play 2017 Shenzhen finalist Alison Riske, who opened beat fifth-seeded Wang Qiang on Sunday.
Nagal beat Spain's Menendez-Maceiras in a nip-and-tuck second encounter which finished 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the Indian's favour.
After dropping the first set Monday, Konta hit form and had decisive service breaks early in the second and third sets before clinching it on her second match point, breaking Keys' serve to finish off in just over two hours.
The tournament ended without many of the stars who had been expected to take part in the six-player event.
Williams said after the 67-minute match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship that she is still undecided on her title defence of the Australian Open, which starts Jan. 15 but delivered a warning to rivals.
Bhambri, ranked 116 in the world, had reached the second round when the ATP 250 event was played in Chennai in January 2017.
Murray, who has been struggling to find full fitness following a right hip problem, was initially only in Abu Dhabi to practice before next month's Australian Open.
Djokovic hasn't played competitive tennis since he retired in the Wimbledon quarterfinals because of the elbow injury.
The two stalwarts - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal not only made a successful return after the long injury hiatus but also dominated the professional circuit just like the old times, sharing all the four majors between them.
Yuki has long been India's big hope after winning the junior Australian Open in 2009 and prestigious Orange Bowl in the same year but consistent success at the highest level is yet to arrive for the Delhi-born player.
Nadal had reached the semi-finals in Brisbane early this year before claiming his first grand slam final in two-and-a-half years at the Australian Open.
Djokovic was expected to make a return in 2018, but he has decided to start his season early at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
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