Pace bowler Tim Southee will take renewed confidence into what he describes as an ideal build-up for the Black Caps ahead of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka.
Recalled for the second Test against India in Bangalore, Southee took career-best figures of 7-64 in the first innings of a match in which New Zealand put up a combative performance before losing by five wickets.
"It's been a long time since taking five wickets in a Test match," the 23-year-old said on Wednesday.
"It just gives you that confidence again - to come back after missing the first Test and put in a performance like that."
Southee has one other five-wicket bag in Tests to his name and that came in his debut innings in March 2008, when he grabbed 5-55 against England in Napier.
He felt he had bowled well in the nets ahead of the Bangalore match and it was case of carrying that form out into the middle.
"Luckily, it all clicked and it's always nice to pick up a couple of early wickets," he said.
The two teams now turn their attention to the shortest form of the game, with a two-match T20 series beginning in Vishakhapatnam on Sunday.
Among the additions to the New Zealand squad are the experienced pair of Daniel Vettori, back from a groin injury, and Jacob Oram, who has been playing in the Sri Lankan Premier League.
"It's a perfect lead-up for us going into the World Cup," Southee said.
"Hopefully we can grab some momentum and experiment with some things before we go to Sri Lanka."
The second match in the series is in Chennai next Wednesday.
The Black Caps then have warm-up fixtures against Australia and South Africa in Colombo, before beginning their World Cup campaign against Bangladesh at Pallekele, in Kandy, on September 21.
NZN
