‘Tim Seifert perfect fit for CSK’- Ravi Ashwin about five-time champions IPL 2026 strategy

Ravichandran Ashwin, a former player for the Chennai Super Kings, thinks Tim Seifert would be a fantastic addition to CSK in the next IPL. Seifert will be one of several in the IPL 2026 Auction after taking the CPL 2025 by storm.

Tim Seifert, who plays for St. Lucia Kings, has made 277 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 178.70 with one century and one fifty. Against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Seifert recorded the second-fastest century in CPL history.

Opens the batting, keeps wicket, and is a good fielder:Ravi Ashwin on how Tim Seifert is perfect for CSK

He finished with 125 off just 53 balls and assisted the St. Lucia Kings in destroying 92 in the powerplay. The 30-year-old has three half-centuries, a century, and has just failed to reach 30 in his previous eight innings.

Later in the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru selected the Kiwi keeper-opener as a temporary substitute after he went unsold the previous year.

Ravi Ashwin, who recently announced his retirement from IPL, was part of CSK in IPL 2025, when they finished in 10th spot with four wins from 14 games. He stated that Tim Seifert could be a valuable addition to CSK to rejuvenate their squad.

“There’s a guy who’s caught my attention. He could be an amazing fit, especially for a team like CSK. Last year Josh Inglis got a lot of praise, and this year I think it is his second birth. He plays for the St. Lucia Kings, opens the batting, keeps wicket, and is a good fielder. He’s batted really well for the past two years—I’m talking about Tim Seifert,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“Even today he scored a century in 40 balls. They were chasing 202 and needed 52 off 42 balls with 9 wickets in hand. He could have easily batted through to get his hundred. But one striking feature was he hit a 6 on 87 and then another to get to 99 before taking the single. Scoring a century in T20 is not easy, and he did so batting selflessly,” he added.

Under head coach Stephen Fleming, CSK has consistently favored having New Zealanders on the team. Players who have played for MS Dhoni's team include Scott Styris, Tim Southee, Brendon McCullum, Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell, and Jacob Oram. Seifert might be added to the roster in an effort to restart his IPL career.

“I’m mentioning CSK because should they not retain Devon Conway or Rachin Ravindra, they need an experienced opener. CSK have always gone with experience at the top—Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Smith, and Brendon McCullum. Seifert has the experience and has played in a variety of leagues and is a New Zealander. So given the factors, I think Seifert will get a bid in the auction, and CSK could be one of the teams to go after him,” Ashwin concluded.

Seifert, a 282 T20 veteran, averages more than a six every inning and has a strike rate of 134.18. With CSK choosing an extremely aggressive strategy, the Kiwi ace might make a difference at the top.

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