The master blaster, Virender Sehwag played the innings of his life time, thrashed 219 runs and entered his name in the history books while becoming No.1 batsman of the world.

Virender Sehwag achieved the distinction in the fourth One Day International against West Indies on December 8, 2011, at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore. He over took the record held by the little master Sachin Tendulkar previously. Sachin Tendulkar scored unbeaten 200 runs off 149 balls with three sixes and 25 fours against South Africa on February 24, 2010, at Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior.

The stand in Captain of India, Sehawag had a miserable series as he could manage 20, 26 and 0 runs in the previous three matches against the same opponents. He lashed out the top order of India and gave them a wake up call as their performance was alarming including himself.

Virender Sehwag went in to bat with Gautam Ghambir and made his intentions obvious by dispatching a four on the first ball of the second over which was followed by a well timed six in the next over. He continued in the same manner and completely his first fifty of the series on the last ball of the 15th ball with a superb six over long on.

The 33-year-old changed his gears instantly and preferred to score more in the boundaries and sent the ball rolling and flying over the rope at his will. The stylish right hand batsman added another hundred in his account by plundering a four to kieron Pollard over point. He marched towards his 150 marks with style and secured that by stealing a couple while pointing the ball towards deep mid wicket.

The right hand batsman became more aggressive in the batting power play which commenced from the 36th over. The field restrictions were utilized fully by him and that was the time when he started thinking of his double hundred. He got a life when he was dropped a simple catch by Darren Sammy off Ravi Rampaul at 170 runs.

The Windies Captain was not at his best at catching throughout the series and that was a costly let off by him. The run machine capitalized the chance by smashing 200 runs on the fourth ball of the 44th over while acquiring a four. He was pleased and commented about his double hundred as,”It was only after the batting powerplay started, I felt that I could reach double hundred. Also when Sammy dropped me (at 170), I knew that God was with me,”

The record was equaled and got surpassed on the very next ball once he took a single. He carried on the aggression until he was finally caught at long off by martin on the bowling of Pollard. He smashed 219 runs off just 149 balls which comprised 6 towering sixes and 25 targeted fours.

Sehwag never anticipated a double hundred but planned for a better show with the co-opener Gautam Ghambir. He said,
“I never expected to score a double hundred. While opening the innings, I told Gautam Gambhir that if we can show some patience on this track, we will be in for a big one as the wicket is a good one. The outfield is fantastic and the distance of the boundary is only 50 yards.”

Sehwag brought him on the top of the all time highest scorer in the ODI by flourishing 219 runs and it will take a while before some other batsman clinch his place.