PVL 2023: Last year's finalist Ahmedabad Defenders to start against Hyderabad Black Hawks

Ahmedabad Defenders lost the summit clash to Kolkata Thunderbolts in the inaugural season.

The stage is set for another thrilling encounter in Prime Volleyball League 2023, as last season’s runners-up, Ahmedabad Defenders take on a formidable Hyderabad Black Hawks. The match will take place in the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, where both teams will be eager to get their campaign off to a winning start. 

Both the Ahmedabad Defenders and Hyderabad Black Hawks are among the stronger sides in the league and will be looking to put in a dominant performance and assert themselves from the outset. With a victory in this match, they will be able to build the momentum that has proven crucial in this league so far. The tension is high, and the excitement levels are higher, as fans eagerly await this blockbuster clash.

Angamuthu Ramaswamy, one of the more experienced players in the Ahmedabad set-up, shared his thoughts ahead of the game. He is hopeful that this campaign will see them go one step further and bring home the coveted trophy. “Last year, it was tough for us to come so close, hopefully, this year we will get the trophy."

For the most part, Ahmedabad have retained their squad composition. Angamuthu  said, “The coaches want us to use this to our advantage, we already have the coordination with each other and hopefully we can use it to start strong.”

Guru Prasanth, Captain of the Hyderabad Black Hawks who also has the enviable reputation of being a match-winner is expecting a hard-fought clash between the two sides. He said, “Ahmedabad are a very good team as we saw last season, their teamwork is one of their core strengths. However, we have drawn up a few strategies and we only need to execute them.”

Guru Prasanth also commended the coach of the Black Hawks, Tom Joseph for creating a great environment within the team, which comprises a healthy mix of retained players and new signings. This environment has fermented a lot of confidence within the unit. “He always asks us to play freely, to play our hearts out and not get bogged down by the pressure. This allows us to go out and express ourselves on the court," he added.

Fans are in for a treat as the match promises to be an action-packed affair filled with top-notch volleyball skills and edge-of-the-seat moments. As seen in the previous two encounters of the Bengaluru leg, the presence of fans in the stadium makes for an electric atmosphere.