After a long journey and an emotional fall from the T20 World Cup, New Zealand started their World Test Championship defense against India this week.
After losing to Australia in their World Cup final, India whitewashed India 3-0 in the T20 series, losing the feeling of winning the 'Black Caps' in the first Test to avenge their opponents in Kanpur on Thursday.
New Zealand may have memories of losing to India in Southampton to claim the inaugural WTC Trophy in June, but the chances of a neutral zone in the Rose Bowl are slim.
With the exception of pace spearhead Trent Bolt and all-rounder Colin D'Grandhome, New Zealand will face the same opponents where they have not won a Test series since the 1988/89 tour.
"You understand the enormity of the challenge ahead," head coach Gary Stead told reporters on Tuesday.
"India are a great team. They have got world class spinners in their environment here too.
"(They) are one of the biggest challenges of the Test calendar. It's something we haven't done for some time, we haven't been here since 2016 but we are definitely looking forward to."
New Zealand will have only two training sessions as a full squad before Thursday, with the T20 players returning to camp on Monday after the loss in Kolkata.
Several players, including batsman Ross Taylor and pacer Neil Wagner, do not have match fitness.
The selectors have not yet decided who will replace batsman Devon Conway in the first Test after breaking his arm in the World Cup.
"We can be as prepared as possible in this cowardly world," Stead said.
"India is also playing a T20 series ... hopefully for us they are in the same boat as us."
New Zealand's four-point pace attack reigned supreme in the last Kovid-infected WTC cycle but the Black Caps will not be able to return to their traditional strength in Kanpur and Mumbai.
They hope left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel and offspinner Will Somerville will be able to put pressure on India's strong batting line-up, while all-rounder Mitch Santner will also have a left-arm spin.
Stade acknowledged that some New Zealand players need to be careful after their long runs, but said there was little time to think about things.
"In two weeks we'll be home on a plane, things will happen for us very quickly," he said. "So it's really important that we work and focus on the challenges ahead."
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