Instead, New Zealand got their act together against the West Indies - a proving ground of sorts, a turning of corners - and have the chance to wrap up their ODI series against the mighty Indians with two games to play, when many would have predicted that situation would have sat with the visitors at Eden Park today.
New Zealand have played two heady, spirited, high calibre ODI games, held their nerve and got a rich reward.
Even if the Indians win today, the next two ODIs potentially have "decider" writ large across them. New Zealand will surely not want to take that route.
It is difficult to underestimate how important this Indian tour is for New Zealand. For one thing, there's the purely cricketing issue.
If New Zealand want to continue digging their way out of the ratings black hole into which they've disappeared in the past few seasons, there's only one way to do it - and, more to the point, do it against a powerful, highly ranked team.
They have already knocked India off the No1 ODI perch they've sat on for the past year. The Aussies like us for that.
They have a decent degree of momentum, a blockbuster in Corey Anderson, an aggressive bowling policy, and batsmen in good form. Ally that to superb ground fielding and - generally - safe catching hands and they have much going for them right now.
The two tests are to come, fresh challenges, different Indian players to face. But that's for later.
There's another aspect hovering over this series, indeed this sport.
The cricket world is facing its biggest organisational crisis.
Depending on the outcome of a meeting in Dubai next week, three countries are poised to grab all the power in a barely conceivable show of greed, and then prepare to dish out favours as they see fit to the others.
Those others, remember, are their equals in all cricket respects except financial and in some - but not all - cases, playing strength. They will be left queuing outside the gates with their begging bowls at the ready.
Beating the Indians won't change a thing about the outcome of the International Cricket Council's talks next week. However, consider the satisfaction to be gained from victory over India at this time. At any time, it's immensely satisfying, but especially now.
There will be those who assume India, Australia and England are the game's three best teams. Wrong. Just ask South Africa. They simply have deeper pockets and want to fill them. If that's at the expense of the rest, tough.
Just look at the mess England are in on their dreadful Ashes tour, mercifully nearing its end.
But if the power grab is successful, New Zealand need to show they are worthy playing opponents for the Big Three. And the best way of doing that is right in front of them.
