The final Test of the series summed up where India and New Zealand stood with regard to history and Test rankings.

India, not having won a Test series in New Zealand for more than 41 years, shed the daredevilry that has become their trademark of late and went for safety first. It showed how much series wins outside the subcontinent, rare as they have been, mean to an Indian team. You can't really dump all the historical baggage.

With a little help from the weather, New Zealand hung on, which will give them some satisfaction, a mini-milestone for a team on a long road to recovery after sudden retirements and an abrupt changing of the guard. The emergence of Jesse Ryder and the return of Chris Martin will be their biggest gains.

The series confirmed the ICC Test rankings, but in Napier, New Zealand showed they could not be written off as a Test side. After their capitulation in Hamilton, a 3-0 result had become a distinct possibility. In application New Zealand might have lacked, in talent they didn't. But as usual they left their followers wondering which was the real New Zealand: one that almost won in Napier or the one that almost lost next week in Wellington? Did they play above themselves in Napier, or did they under-perform in Wellington? We will know over the next year or two.

India as a professional unit did what was required to win the series, as they were expected to. They showed early aggression in Hamilton, character and resolve in Napier, and circumspection, induced by their dismal overseas record, in Wellington. But the way they played the first two Tests is a serious warning to Australia and South Africa; they could play their natural flashy game, but they could just as well bat for close to seven sessions to save a Test.

Gautam Gambhir's batting and Harbhajan Singh's bowling are the big success stories for India. Gambhir showed he could transform his game to any situation, something Rahul Dravid had earlier mentioned was critical to the success of a Test cricketer. Harbhajan showed he could lead the attack, when the pitch offered assistance, as in Hamilton, and that he could play back-up and perform the thankless act of bowling into the wind, as in Wellington.

Another big success for India was that the likes of Dravid and VVS Laxman slipped into a support role with ease. That they did so efficiently, and that their big centuries were not missed, is a good sign for a team that will again be in transition in the near future. Sachin Tendulkar will be 36 in 16 days, Dravid turned 36 three months ago, and Laxman is going on 35. The series win will be most satisfactory for the trio, who were humbled on green tops when they last toured here.