Their last loss at Green Park was to the West Indies in 1983. Since then they have won five and drawn three matches there.
The second test starts at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens on Friday and New Zealand will need to think hard about the composition of their XI.
Out of sorts opener Martin Guptill fell for a duck in the second innings, slogging in the fourth over, to continue his lean run; and will they persist with him, and the three spinner approach of Kanpur?
It's unlikely but one of them, offspinner Mark Craig, won't be there anyway.
He's heading home with a side muscle injury, and replaced by the 36-year-old veteran Jeetan Patel, last seen in New Zealand colours three years ago on the ill-starred series in South Africa.
New Zealand didn't lay down meekly today and two of their best performers in the test, Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner, were largely responsible for that.
The pair carried their fifth wicket stand to 102 before Ronchi, cleverly blending assertive strokes with watchful defence, skied a catch to point.
His 80 off 120 balls was hugely impressive in the circumstances and his work with allrounder Santner deserved high praise.
Santner went on to 71, his best test score, before becoming Ravi Ashwin's fifth victim of the innings, and ninth in the match.
He used his reach to good effect and was particularly impressive off the back foot, working the ball through the offside.
Both Santner and Ronchi made important points about what they can contribute with the bat, given the chance.
The pair survived raucous appeals and batted with courage, skill and concentration, but in the end Ashwin - who bizarrely was beaten for man of the match by his spin chum Ravi Jadeja -- and India, would not be denied.
Ashwin peeled off the last three wickets to finish with six for 132 in the innings and 10 for 225 in the match. His variations were simply too much for the tail.
The pitch didn't play as many tricks as it had on the previous two days, almost as if it was having a nap but still had plenty of turn.
Every so often, however, one exploded and the batsman survived more through luck than talent.
"There were a lot of positives throughout the match and hopefully a few lessons as well," New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.
"But they outplayed us with bat and ball."
He rued that New Zealand were not able to push on from a promising situation to at least match India's first innings 318. Williamson had high praise for Ronchi and Santner.
"They were both fantastic. It certainly wasn't easy. The ball was spinning sharply and there are a couple of world class spinners in the Indian lineup.
"The way Santner applied himself with the bat and ball was certainly impressive and the way Luke Ronchi came back in and played with that freedom was great to watch."
India's captain Virat Kohli was magnanimous towards New Zealand after the match.
"It was a memorable test, right from the second day when New Zealand were batting very well," Kohli said.
"They showed good resilience and that's something you want to see in an opposition, so credit goes to New Zealand. The reason the match went on into the second session of the final day was the character and guts they showed.
"I'm sure the series is going to be more competitive as we go along."
