After losing eight consecutive test matches in the last season, India started of well in this season and beat New Zealand by an innings and 115 runs in the first of the two match test series at Hyderabad. India batting first in the match scored 438 then bowled out New Zealand twice to win the match by an innings and 115 runs.

Here are few of the hits and flops of the match:

India

Hits

Cheteswar Pujara: Playing in his first test after almost one and half years, Pujara was under lot of pressure especially due to Dravid's retirement. Lot was expected off him and he delivered on those lines. He picked up his maiden century and scored 159 including 19 fours and a six. His innings played the role of an anchor around which the other performances of the team revoolved.

Virat Kohli: Kohli carried his ODI form into the longer version as well and played a brilliant knock to strengthen India's grip on the match. Playing at number five position, he played well to score a well deserved 58.

MS Dhoni: Dhoni did not have a very good outing in the last two test series but then he made amends with his knock in this match. After Kohli's and Raina's dismissal, things were not looking good for India. Dhoni the played a captain knocks to steady teh Indian ship and supported Pujara well. He scored 73 laced with six fours and a six.

R Ashwin: If Pujara led the Indian batting, then Ashwin did it with teh ball. He was unplayable throughout the match and took wickets at will. He returned with a career best match haul of 12- 85 and helped India dismiss New Zealand way below the the required score of 438.

Pragyan Ojha: OJha played a perfect second fiddle to Ashwin and was impressive with the ball. He ended for 6-92 in the match.

Flops:

Suresh Raina: He came in a crucial time for India and the team expected lot from him but then he was out cheap leaving team in all sorts of trouble. The way he got out shows that he still lacks technique of playing in Test matches.

New Zealand:

Hits:

Kane Williamson: Kane Williamson was the only Kiwi batsmen who seemed at ease with the Indian bowlers in both the innings. He played well in both the innings and as a matter of fact is the only batsman who couls score a fifty in the score. He scored 32 and 52 in the match.

Brendon McCullum: He was at his reckless in the first innings and playing some fany shots was out quickly but then in the second innings showed much for intent and played much more maturedly. He and Kane frustrated the Indian bowlers and he was out due to a faulty judgement. His wicket actually saw the floodgates open and wickets started tumbling in the second innings.

Trent Boult: Playing in his debut test he bowled with great line and precision. In a match where none of the other seamers from either of the teams could extract anything from the pitch, he took three wickets in teh first match.

Jeetan Patel: The spinner worked hard throughout the first innings and was rewarded for it as he ended with four wickets. He got the ball to beat, beat Indian batsmen with his variation and gave Kiwis the crucial breakthroughs.

Flops:

Ross Taylor: The Kiwi skipper should have rose to the occasion and played a captain knock but then he failed in both the innings, Taylor who plays in the IPL should have brought in his exprience into play but then could even reach double figure in the match once.

By Indian Sports News Network