"We kept that newspaper for lunch before the final" - CSK legend reveals how they responded to 'Dad's Army' tag in IPL 2018

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter and legend Suresh Raina revealed how the team responded to the 'Dad's Army' tag during the IPL 2018 season. The franchise was banned for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, and returned in 2018.

CSK were given the tag of 'Dad's Army' for having older players in the team. However, Suresh Raina recalled a funny incident where the team kept the newspaper where this was written about, for lunch, before the IPL 2018 final.

"After we came back from the ban in 2018, everyone was telling it is a team of uncles. We kept that newspaper (where it was written so) for lunch before the final. During those two years, Dhoni went to Pune. I became captain of Gujarat Lions. When RPSG and Gujarat would play, Dhoni was batting, Jadeja was bowling, I am standing in slips. That is not RPSG and Gujarat Lions at all, that is CSK only (funnily with a laugh)," he said on the second episode of 'Taakat', a show on Ranveer Allahbadia's YouTube channel. (15:45)

CSK made a grand return after their ban as they won the IPL 2018 trophy by beating SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final by eight wickets. Raina scored 445 runs from 15 matches that season at an average of 37.08, with four half-centuries.

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CSK legend highlights MS Dhoni's captaincy class with an example from IPL 2018

Further, CSK legend Suresh Raina highlighted MS Dhoni's prowess as a captain with an example from their IPL 2018 campaign. In the same conversation, he revealed how Dhoni recognises players who have courage, and not just talent, and backs them.

"He has a different winning formula. He believes in the process. He gets to know that talent is in everyone but very few people have the courage. Even if you flop in ten games but if he is the captain, if he knows you have the courage, he will give you chances. Look at the example of Shane Watson (2018 IPL). He flopped the entire tournament but scored a hundred in the final," he said. (14:37)

Shane Watson smashed an unbeaten century in the IPL 2018 final. Chennai were chasing 179 runs and Watson remained unbeaten on 117 off just 57 balls, winning the 'Player of the Match' award as they got over the line in 18.3 overs.