After he responded to the call of captain Brendon McCullum to appear in a record 112th test for New Zealand, his parents, wife and children flew to Sharjah. Wife Mary even packed his treasured original black cap.
The 35-year-old said he played what he expected to be his last test and received a special send-off from his family sitting in the main stand.
"It was lovely that Mum and Dad, who had enjoyed my career without putting any pressure on, could have this experience. I think it might have been a bit tough on Dad being a dry state, but he enjoyed himself otherwise," Vettori chuckled.
"Personally, it was great to see my wife and kids who, while they mightn't have an understanding of what's going on, were pretty excited to come over and see Dad play."
Vettori went to the UAE as part of the New Zealand A team and a test recall, as part of the first trio of specialist spinners to appear in a New Zealand attack in more than 16 years, came as a shock.
In September, Vettori acknowledged he wouldn't add to his 112 tests unless something drastic happened. It did, in the form of a blinding sheen on the Sharjah wicket which screamed 'spin-friendly'.
Now his focus returns to ODIs.
Vettori's desire has returned after recovering from Achilles tendon and adductor injuries.
Compelling reasons justify why he is welcome back. In 280 ODIs, he's taken 289 wickets at an economy rate of 4.12 - that's a psychological nuisance.
Spin experience will be vital during the World Cup on pitches where only one specialist is likely, especially with the laws restricting a fifth fielder out of the 30m circle.
McCullum knows Vettori will be difficult to score against which means opposition batsmen will have to take risks against him or other bowlers.
In 130 ODIs since the original power-play changes in 2005, Vettori has conceded just 3.97 runs per over. It's a statistic bettered only (among bowlers from test-playing nations to bowl more than five overs) by Shaun Pollock (3.34 in 70 ODIs), Glenn McGrath (3.91 in 40 ODIs) and Ray Price (3.94 in 76 ODIs).
Vettori contemplated retiring from 50-over cricket after the last World Cup, when he relinquished the captaincy. Part of his legacy was knitting a relatively weak team together to make the semifinals.
He didn't have access, as McCullum does now, to individuals playing with great maturity like Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee.
If it wasn't for Vettori's tenacious bowling and rearguard batting in many scenarios, who knows where New Zealand would rank? Now he gets to revel in playing for a stronger side as part of what's expected to be his valedictory performance.
