5 most consistent players from the first Test between India and New Zealand

#1 Ravichandran Ashwin – Jana Bankable Player of the match

Ashwin is at the top of his game currently

1st innings: Batting – 40(76), Bowling - 4/93

2nd innings: Bowling – 6/132

It was a historic occasion for Ravichandran Ashwin as he put in a performance for the ages at Kanpur. The off-spinner, now the second quickest to amass 200 Test wickets, paid tribute to India’s legendary spinners of the past to mark the country’s 500th Test with a special performance.

His ten-for completely derailed the Kiwi batsmen as they had no answer to his trickery. He scored 40 runs in the first innings. Such has been his all-round form that he might even consider that a disappointment. With the ball, he picked up 4 wickets, including those of Williamson and Santner.

In the second innings, he came into his own and was nearly unplayable throughout. His 6 wickets ensured that the Kiwis could not build a single partnership of note and it was only justified that he picked up the wicket that gave India the win.

Ashwin’s consistency shone through a very tight match, and his ability to chip in with key contributions in both innings, with both bat and ball, saw him win the Jana Bankable Player award.