The Black Caps have been swept by India in the T20 series with the tourists unable to offer much in the third and final game in Kolkata.
Martin Guptill Photo: PHOTOSPORT
India romped to a 73-run victory as head coach Rahul Dravid began his tenure with a 3-0 series sweep.
Home captain Rohit Sharma smashed 56 off 31 balls to fire the hosts to a strong 184-7 in the dead rubber at Eden Gardens.
Martin Guptill made a breezy 51 but New Zealand, runners-up at the recent Twenty20 World Cup, were all out for 111 in the 18th over.
Opting to bat, India plundered 69 runs off the first six overs and, after a mid-innings blip, 50 off the last five to post a strong total.
Having taken over as India's 20-overs captain after Virat Kohli relinquished the role following the World Cup, Rohit combined with Ishan Kishan (29) to give India a flying start.
Mitchell Santner (3-27) dismissed Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in the same over and then Ish Sodhi took a sharp return catch from Rohit to bring some relief for the tourists.
India accelerated in the last five overs with Deepak Chahar providing the late assault with 21 off eight balls.
When they returned to defend the total, spinner Axar Patel (3-9) removed Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman in the same over to rattle New Zealand.
Guptill refused to get bogged down though, racing to a 33-ball fifty to keep New Zealand on course.
The opener clobbered four sixes and contributed 51 of the 69 runs that the tourists scored in the first 10 overs.
But once Yuzvendra Chahal removed Guptill in the 11th over, India had the game in the bag.
While the Black Caps had the better of India at the World Cup, Santner admits they're a different beast at home.
"It's always challenging coming over to India and playing a very good side.
"We were good in patches in every game, but we lost a few overs here and there and it happened again tonight.
Trent Boult Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Santner discounted any fatigue issues following the World Cup
"It's obviously been a challenge with the quick turn around after the World Cup, but we pride ourselves on turning up and we wanted to try and win a series," Santner said.
"It doesn't matter what format you come up against India they're going to be a challenge to beat at home."
As for Rahul Dravid, who inherited the coaching reins from Ravi Shastri after the World Cup, it couldn't have turned out any better.
"It's nice to start well," Dravid said.
"But we have to be realistic about this win and keep our feet on the ground."
"It's been really good to see some of the younger guys come through."
The teams will now lock horns in a two-test series beginning in Kanpur on Thursday.
-Reuters/RNZ