Patna Pirates Part Ways with Head Coach Anup Kumar After PKL 12

Patna Pirates have released head coach Anup Kumar following their impressive PKL 12 campaign. Anup left midway through the season after managing only two wins in nine matches. Assistant coach Randeep Dalal took charge, guiding Patna to eight consecutive victories and a playoff berth. The management is now likely to continue with Dalal as head coach.

For the Patna Pirates, Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League was a tale of two halves filled with drama and redemption. The team began disastrously, winning just three of their first thirteen matches under head coach Anup Kumar, who was later forced to return home midway through the campaign due to personal reasons. Former defence coach Randeep Dalal stepped in as interim head coach and completely transformed the side’s fortunes.

Under his guidance, Patna produced an extraordinary turnaround, winning eight consecutive games and rising from the bottom of the table to qualify for the knockouts. Their spirited run continued in the playoffs, where they defeated Jaipur Pink Panthers and Bengaluru Bulls in the first two Eliminators before narrowly losing to the Titans in Eliminator 3. Despite missing out on the final, their fightback was hailed as one of the most remarkable comebacks in PKL history.

Following the season’s conclusion, the franchise officially released Anup Kumar as head coach, reportedly to hand Randeep Dalal a full-time opportunity after his success with the team. The decision reflects Patna’s intent to build on the momentum and continuity that Dalal brought during their stunning late-season surge in Pro Kabaddi 2025.