India opener Virender Sehwag has hit the record one-day international score after smashing 219 from 149 balls against West Indies in Indore.
His team-mate Sachin Tendulkar, rested from this series, previously held the record after hitting an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010.
Sehwag, 33, received a major reprieve on 170 when Windies skipper Darren Sammy dropped an easy chance.
He finally holed out in the 47th over after hitting seven sixes and 25 fours.
Substitute fielder Anthony Martin held the catch at long-off, from the bowling of Kieron Pollard.
India finished on 418-5 from their 50 overs - the joint fourth highest total in one-day international history.
Sehwag, captaining the side with Mahendra Dhoni rested, said: "I think everyone was expecting me to get 200 but I was not expecting it.
"It was a true batting wicket, and when I was hitting the ball into the gaps, it was going for four.
"I was playing my shots throughout the innings, but I started thinking about 200 in the batting powerplay, and when Sammy dropped the catch I thought 'God is with me'."
The right-hander's best score in his 239 previous one-dayers was 175 - while his 219 has only previously been bettered twice in any limited-overs cricket.
Surrey's Ali Brown hit 268 in a domestic C&G Trophy game against Glamorgan at The Oval in 2002, while former South Africa star Graeme Pollock struck an unbeaten 222 for Eastern Province in 1974.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen had earlier tweeted: "If you are a cricket fan, pls switch your tv's on right now & watch a genius bat.. Sehwag destroying the WI.. World record coming.."
India led the five-match series 2-1 going into Thursday's game at Indore.
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL ODI SCORES
219 - Virender Sehwag, India v WI, Dec 2011
200* - Sachin Tendulkar, Ind v SA, Feb 2010
194* - Charles Coventry, Zim v Ban, Aug 2009
194 - Saeed Anwar, Pkn v Ind, May 1997
HIGHEST LIMITED-OVERS SCORES
268 - Ali Brown, Surrey v Glamorgan, Jun 2002
222* - Graeme Pollock, E Province v Border, Oct 1974
219 - Virender Sehwag, India v WI, Dec 2011
