Patna: The Patna Pirates, home team of Patna, which shifted base to Ranchi last year, is back with Pro Kabaddi Premier League matches scheduled to be played here too.

The Pro Kabaddi Season VI starts on October 7 and it will be played at 13 venues. The Patna Pirates home ground, the Patliputra Sports Complex, will host 11 matches starting October 26, when Patna Pirates clashes with Jaipur Pink Panthers.

Of the last five seasons, the Patna home team has dominated. The Pirates have won the past three editions and asserted themselves as the most successful franchise.

A senior official of Patna Pirates on condition of anonymity said: "Last year, we could not hold any match in Patna owing to some technical reasons but seeing its popularity in Patna, we have decided to host matches here."

"Patnites will get an opportunity to see some of the best games, with matches scheduled against U Mumba, Haryana Steelers, Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls and Bengal Warriors."

The Patna Pirates, to maintain its spectacular performance, has retained four elite players - Pardeep Narwal, Jaideep, Manish and Jawahar Dagar. Narwal is considered as the most deadly raider and in the last season, he was adjudged as the most valuable player with his brilliant performance.

In terms of foreign players, the team has Taedeok Eom and Hyunil Park, both South Korean.

Meanwhile, sports lovers and officials from the Bihar State Kabaddi Association have welcomed the decision of Patna Pirates to play matches in their home state.

Bihar State Kabaddi Association secretary Kumar Vijay said: "The decision of Mashal Sports to hold matches in Patna is a welcome step, as people will get the opportunity to watch the games once again."

Vijay added: "This year, the kabaddi season also assumes much importance as two players from Bihar are in different teams."

Even budding kabaddi players are excited. Rishabh Raj, a budding player, said: "For players like me, watching Pro Kabaddi matches live is a different game. Not only do we enjoy, but we learn a lot from such matches as those are played on mat with international kabaddi game rules."