The Bengaluru Torpedoes had lost their first match of this season to the defending champions Kolkata Thunderbolts.
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Ahmedabad Defenders and Benglauru Torpedoes will be keen to bounce back from opening day setbacks when they take on each other in an important RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 contest on Thursday. The upcoming match at the Koramangala Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka becomes extra crucial for both sides due to their opening game defeat. The Bengaluru Torpedoes had lost their first match to the defending champions Kolkata Thunderbolts.
On the other hand, last season runners-up Ahmedabad Defenders fell short against Hyderabad Black Hawks in their opener. Therefore, both sides will be eager to bounce back from those setbacks and open their account in this campaign. One of the players to keep an eye on is seasoned setter for the Bengaluru Torpedoes, Vinayak Rokhade. He explained about the importance of his role.
“As a setter, you have to strategize on the court based on the flow of play and make decisions accordingly. It really depends on how everybody else is playing on a given night that a setter makes their calls on the court. You have to identify the weaknesses of the opposition as well and target those areas,” he said, as per a release.
Read More – Prime Volleyball League 2023: Live Streaming, When and Where to Watch, Format, Rules, Participating Nations, Schedule & Results
Vinayak Rokhade is now determined to help his side register their first win of this ongoing season. Speaking about their defeat to the reigning champions Kolkata Thunderbolts in the opener, he added, “It was a tough game, being the season opener for us and the inaugural day in front of our home fans. I think we were a little unfortunate with the result. A few things did not go our way. But the team definitely gave their 100%. We are staying positive and we hope for a better outcome against Ahmedabad.”
Meanwhile, Aswath Pandiyaraj, who is the second setter for the Ahmedabad Defenders also opened up about his position. “A setter is the captain of the ship. Win or lose, most likely it can be attributed to the role of the Setter. I am fortunate that I get to train and play alongside one of the best setters in the country, our talented Captain, Muthusamy Appavu. He might seem quiet on the field, but his mind is always working and it is always great to see that,” he explained.
| Kolkata Thunderbolts | Ahmedabad Defenders |
| Calicut Heroes | Kochi Blue Spikers |
| Hyderabad Black Hawks | Chennai Blitz |
| Bengaluru Torpedoes | Mumbai Meteors |
| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
| 9 February | Ahmedabad Defenders vs Benglauru Torpedoes | 7 pm |
The Prime Volleyball League 2023, which is held from February 4 to March 5, will consist of 31 matches. The games commence at 7pm. On the double header days, the second match begins at 9:30pm. The Season 2 will be broadcast exclusively by Sony Sports Network across Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 and Sony Sports Ten 4. It can also be livestreamed on SonyLIV. Besides, the 2nd edition of the PVL will be streamed globally on Volleyball World across all countries (except the Indian Subcontinent).
