1998, Mohali. First Test against New Zealand. India crashed to 83 on a fresh deck. The batters made amends in the second innings. Centuries by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar led the way en route 505/3 declared. The Kiwis were left to save the game, which they did. The match ended in a draw. The next fixture was a tour game between the Kiwis and the then Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka. Dravid, Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi packed their bags to join their state-mates. They were not required to, but chose to, believing there's no better way to stay in game-mode ahead of the second Test.
Karnataka beat the New Zealanders by seven wickets. The trio returned to Kanpur, venue of the second Test, with a win under their belt, albeit in a tour game. It felt different, a win always does. Kumble bagged a match-haul of 10 wickets. India won by eight wickets.
