Jan 05, 2012
Flamboyant Indian batsman Virender Sehwag created history by becoming the highest scorer ever in a one-day innings and the second cricketer after teammate Sachin Tendulkar to score a double century in the fourth ODI against the West Indies.
Sehwag smashed his way into record books with his stupendous 219, surpassing Tendulkar's 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior on February 24 last year.
Virender Sehwag (born 20 October 1978), affectionately known as Viru, the Nawab of Najafgarh, Zen master of modern cricket, the Viv Richards of this era, is one of the leading batsmen in the Indian cricket team. Sehwag is an aggressive right-handed opening batsman and a part-time right-arm off-spin bowler. He played his first One Day International in 1999 and joined the Indian Test cricket team in 2001. In April 2009, Sehwag became the only Indian to be honoured as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for his performance in 2008 subsequently becoming the first player of any nationality to retain the award for 2009.
Sehwag holds multiple records including the highest score made by an Indian in Test cricket (319), which was also the fastest triple century in the history of international cricket (reached 300 off only 278 balls) as well as the fastest 250 by any batsman (in 207 balls against Sri Lanka on 3 December 2009 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai). His other innings of 309 and 293 are also the second and third best by any Indian player. Sehwag also holds the distinction of being one of four batsmen in the world to have ever surpassed 300 twice in Test cricket, and the only one to score two triple centuries and take a five-wicket innings haul. In March 2009, Sehwag smashed the fastest century ever scored by an Indian in ODI cricket, from 60 balls.On 8 December 2011, he hit his maiden double century in ODI cricket, against West Indies, becoming the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the landmark. His score remains the highest individual score in ODI cricket - 219 off 149 balls. He is the only player in world to score a double hundred in ODI and a triple hundred in Test Cricket.
The dashing opener reached the double century milestone when he square-cut Andre Russell for a boundary in the 44th over of the Indian innings, setting off wild celebrations in the stands and dressing room at the jam-packed Holkar Stadium. He faced 140 balls and hit 23 fours and six sixes in his marathon innings. Tendulkar had made his 200 not out from 147 balls. Sehwag punched the air with his right hand after reaching his double century before Rohit Sharma embraced him. He raised both his hands to acknowledge the cheers from the crowd.
