The day Rohit Sharma stole the fire from Prometheus in Vizag

In the sultry October heat of Visakhapatnam, amidst the embrace of autumnal winds, Rohit Sharma scripted a tale of redemption and redefinition on the cricketing canvas. The year 2019 ushered in a transformative chapter for the current India captain, marking a pivotal juncture in his career trajectory that was buckling up to stand majestically as Charminar of Indian cricket.

Once relegated to the confines of middle-order conundrums in Test cricket, Rohit found himself at the cusp of metamorphosis as India's think tank discerned a radical stratagem. The Vizag horizon bore witness to Rohit's baptism as an opener in traditional whites, a move resonating with echoes of conviction and audacity served with extra salt procured from the Bay of Bengal.

As the sun cast its golden hues upon the coastal city, the Mumbaikar embarked on a journey of resurgence alongside Mayank Agarwal, his partner-in-crime in the quest for supremacy. Their willows intertwined in a coherence of strokes, orchestrating a formidable 317-run partnership that reverberated across the cricket-esque landscape. The Hitman's willow danced to the rhythm of 176 scintillating runs, while Agarwal's bat composed an opus of 215, etching a saga of dominance for India.

Yet, the resolute Proteas spirit could not be quelled. Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock unfurled their tapestry of resilience, stitching together a valiant riposte against the Indian bowlers. Amidst the battleground, Ravichandran Ashwin emerged as the harbinger of havoc, claiming seven wickets to temper the South African charge, serving hot Guntur spices to the guests from the rainbow nation.

Undeterred by the ebb and flow of the contest, Rohit's blade continued its lyrical exuberance in the second innings, engraving his name in the record books as the first to notch twin centuries in his inaugural Test as an opener. His pyrotechnics, embellished with 13 towering sixes, that demanded GPS after getting lost near Rushikonda Beach, mirrored the zenith of his skill, surpassing erstwhile records with a swagger reminiscent of legends, befitting the abode of Nawabs.

However, amidst the jubilation lay a blemish that lingered as a testament to human fallibility. Rohit's departure, twice stumped by Keshav Maharaj, painted a picture of vulnerability amid his towering feat—a reminder that even amidst brilliance, shadows of imperfection loom, every reign has to have an end and make way for an adage like this down the years.