The last time New Zealand travelled to India for a two-Test series, they kicked off their campaign at Green Park in Kanpur in Rahul Dravid’s first game as national coach, in November 2021, a match they managed to draw as the last pair of Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel kept India at bay for 8.4 overs on the final evening.

Nearly three years on, the Kiwis are back with Green Park still on their minds, even if they don’t play any of the three Tests in Kanpur. After all, it was here that, late last month, India threw down the gauntlet with one of the most remarkable Test batting displays in recent memory.