Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has wholeheartedly backed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert, opining that the St Lucia Kings sensation might be an ideal candidate for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in coming Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons. Ashwin made the comments on his YouTube channel after praising Seifert's consistency and big-hitting in the current Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025. Ashwin picked out Seifert's aggressive nature and versatility as aspects that fit perfectly with CSK's needs. Famously banking on established and tried and tested T20 performers, the Super Kings had traditionally gone for battle-hardened overseas openers in the past, with previous names having read Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum. In Ashwin's view, Seifert's talent to open the innings, do wicket-keeping and fielding consistently makes him a complete asset. His finishing ability and aggressive batting in tense chases only add to his value for a franchise such as CSK, which places great emphasis on maintaining composure under pressure. Recalling one of Seifert's career-best innings in CPL 2025, Ashwin described how the Kiwi batsman scored a century from 40 deliveries while pursuing 202 against St Lucia Kings. Rather than taking it easy to achieve individual milestones, Seifert demonstrated his unselfish nature by smashing two sixes in succession from 87 to 99 before finishing his hundred in a relaxed manner. Also Read | Watch old video resurfaced: Harbhajan Singh slapping Sreesanth Here is what Ashwin noted, lauding Seifert’s team-first attitude: “Scoring a century in T20 cricket is not easy, but he did so playing selflessly,” Ashwin put his endorsement in perspective of CSK's squad building plan. Amidst talks on whether the franchise will hang on to Devon Conway or Rachin Ravindra, Ashwin indicated that Seifert might be an upcoming replacement. CSK has had a tendency towards overseas openers who have experience and can adapt to the conditions of the IPL, and Seifert's exposure to global leagues makes his case strong. “If CSK decides to move on from Conway or Ravindra, Seifert ticks the boxes they usually look for. He’s experienced, has played in multiple leagues, and being a New Zealander adds to the fit.” Seifert's prolific CPL campaign has further bolstered his reputation in the T20 league. Already renowned for his aggressive stroke playing and wicketkeeping, his current form could attract plenty of attention in the IPL 2026 auction.