The top-ranked Test team in the world have their eyes firmly on next month's South Africa tour even as the men in blue gear up to face New Zealand, now languishing at eighth in the ICC Test rankings.
There is also a stark contrast in the way the two teams are approaching the three-Test series. While Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men are focused on making further inroads after edging out Australia, New Zealand are haunted by a 4-0 drubbing by minnows Bangladesh in their recent one-day series.
Nobody will be better-equipped than captain Daniel Vettori to appreciate the enormity of the task lying ahead of New Zealand.
The advantages India have over their beleaguered rivals are varied, but the most marked is the wealth of experience the hosts possess.
The Kiwis will have to bank solely on Vettori, who will play his 100th Test, for experience of the Indian tracks. The Kiwis have not played in India since a 2003 series which ended in a 0-0 draw, and Vettori is the only surviving member from that team.
India boast three players - Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid - who have played more than 100 Tests, while Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag have 80-plus games under their belts.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have three uncapped players in their ranks - batsman Kane Williamson and fast bowlers Hamish Bennett and Andy McKay - and four more who have played fewer than 10 Tests.
"It's the toughest challenge, to face the top team in their own conditions," said Vettori.
"The talent and success they have is awesome, while we are at the opposite end of the spectrum."
Responding to the inevitable question on the historic upset in Dhaka, Vettori tried to put on a brave face and vowed to make a fresh start.
"We have to take it on the chin," said the 32-year-old Kiwi captain.
"It was hard but we were expecting the criticism. We have tried to identify our problems and hope that the setback works as a catalyst to better things."
On the new faces in the team, the skipper said: "It is a huge opportunity for them to perform against some of the finest players in the world."
Meanwhile, Tendulkar yet again will be the centre of attention should India get to bat first as he is just one short of his 50th Test century.
The Mumbai native has had a remarkable 2010, going past 14,000 runs and amassing 1,000-plus runs in a calendar year for the second time in his 21-year career.
The ICC Cricketer Of The Year award was the icing on the cake after he led India to a memorable 2-0 series victory against Australia last month with a double century and a half-century in Bangalore.
Tendulkar has scored 1,270 runs in nine Tests this year at an average of 97.69 and has amassed 1,406 runs in 19 Tests against New Zealand at an average of over 52.
"If any cricketer most deserves to accomplish such a feat (50 centuries), it's him," said Sehwag.
"I am lucky to be playing cricket with him and I would like to say again that I am playing cricket and am here only because of him."
Besides the presence of an in-form Tendulkar, India are also boosted by the return of Ishant Sharma and Laxman, both of whom played key roles in the first Test victory against Australia in Mohali, along with fit-again opener Gautam Gambhir.
New Zealand's tour of India also includes a five-match one-day series after two more Test matches in Hyderabad (November 12 to 16) and Nagpur (November 20 to 24).
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