Opener Devon Conway and debutant Mitchell Hay struck half-centuries to earn New Zealand a handy first-innings lead of 73 before their depleted bowling attack reduced West Indies to 32 for two to take control of the second Test in Wellington on Thursday.
India, who defeated England by five wickets in the fourth Test in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, replaced the Kiwis with a stronger points percentage of 64.58.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has smashed 655 runs in four Tests against England with two fifties and as many centuries.
New Zealand paceman Neil Wagner called time on his 64-Test career on Tuesday, bowing out as the nation's fifth highest wicket-taker with 260 victims after being informed he would not be selected in the upcoming series against Australia.
Kane Williamson scored his second Test century and guided New Zealand to an unexpected draw as the hosts made 200 for six at the end of the third and final Test against South Africa at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday.
New Zealand finished the fourth day of the final Test 274 runs behind South Africa on Monday and lost Ross Taylor to a broken arm after the skipper was struck by a Morne Morkel bouncer.
Kane Williamson inched towards his ninth Test century as he and BJ Watling staved off Sri Lanka's push for victory at the close of play on the third day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.
Images from the Day Two of the second and final Test between New Zealand and India, at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington, on Saturday.
Images from the opening day of the second and final Test between New Zealand and India, at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington, on Friday.
The third and final Test between India and New Zealand ended in a draw as play was not possible after rain came down during post-lunch session on the fifth day at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Tuesday.
Statistical highlights from the drawn second Test between India and New Zealand in Wellington.
Images from the Day Five of the second and final Test between New Zealand and India, at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington, on Tuesday.
Images from the Day 4 of the second and final Test between New Zealand and India, at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington, on Monday.
Images from the Day Three of the second and final Test between New Zealand and India, at the Basin Reserve, in Wellington, on Sunday.
India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan says the current Test squad will only get better with time as they gain in experience, adding the New Zealand tour is another learning curve for them.
Ashwin gained two places after taking six wickets in India's emphatic victory over Australia in the second Test in New Delhi.
In the latest ICC ODI Rankings, Mohammed Siraj was dethroned from the top as he slipped to third place, while Josh Hazlewood climbed to the top.
Pant equals Dhoni's record of most catches in a Test innings
New Zealand's drubbing of India was hailed as one of their best in Black Caps' history by the media. New Zealand head into their next match in Christchurch, starting Saturday, with the chance of claiming a rare Test series sweep over India.
New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson has called on the country's curators to serve up green pitches when India tour for their two-Test series in February.
Australia's Steve Smith is back on top of the list of batsmen in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings after India captain Virat Kohli could manage only 21 runs in his two innings in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, which his side lost by 10 wickets to concede a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. This is the eighth time that Smith is on top of the rankings after first occupying the top position in June 2015.
Kiwi middle order batsman Kane Williamson believes the umpires' decision to declare him not out, when Alviro Petersen had caught him during the last day of the final Test, was right, as the catch was 'debatable'.
After dream debut against India, New Zealand's imposing pacer Kyle Jamieson wants to establish himself as an all-rounder.
India openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag moved in opposite directions in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after their contrasting performances against New Zealand in the Wellington Test which ended in a draw on Tuesday.
England were "desperate" to win the second Test against New Zealand to end an eight-match streak without a victory, captain Michael Vaughan said on Monday.
Trent Boult and Tim Southee have exposed the chinks in Prithvi Shaw's armour but India captain Virat Kohli is ready to wait and watch before any corrective analysis as he does not see a pattern in the young opener's dismissals so far. There are a few shortcomings that experts have noticed in Shaw's batting after the 20-year-old right-handed batsman scored just 16 and 14 in the two innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, which India lost by 10 wickets.
Kiwi star Brendon McCullum must have given nightmare to many bowlers around the world during his international playing days. The former New Zealand captain, who recently retired from international cricket, named the four toughest bowlers he found difficult to face against during his 14-year dream career. "Murali (Sri Lanka champion Muthiah Muralitharan) was always, for me, incredibly difficult to face, mainly because you had no idea which way it was spinning," McCullum told Star Sports. "Brad Hogg, as well, because of his uncanny bowling action and his ability to turn it both ways. "I think Brett Lee when he was in his pomp. He was fast, wasn't he? "And probably Mitchell Starc too of more recent times."
Swing and seam friendly conditions, a lack of truly scary Australian bowlers and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's retirement are all themes that will resonate when the first Test gets underway in Wellington on Friday.
When India lost the Wellington Test by 10 wickets, was it the worst defeat for Virat Kohli's team? Rajneesh Gupta has the answers.
Ahead of the four-Test series against Australia, pacer Ishant Sharma says it is vital to learn from whatever India did right on past tours, focus on that and keep doing the same.
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