Tendulkar, the key figure in Bell's recall

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is getting the applause but it was actually Sachin Tendulkar's intervention that led to Ian Bell's reinstatement after his bizarre run out in the second Test here, a media report has claimed.

According to The Daily Mail , Dhoni refused to entertain England skipper Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower's request for reinstating Bell, who was run out after leaving his crease claiming to be under the impression that tea break had been taken on the third day of the match which England won by 319 runs.

Key figure

“Sachin Tendulkar has emerged as the key figure behind India's dramatic change of heart that led to the recall of Ian Bell after the controversial run out,” the newspaper reported.

The Indians had appealed for Bell's dismissal and got the umpires' decision in their favour but decided to allow the batsman's reinstatement during tea break when requested by Strauss and Flower.

“Tendulkar was the voice in the dressing room that got Bell reinstated,” the daily quoted a source as saying.

Averting a controversy

The newspaper said Tendulkar successfully managed to avert a major controversy.

“It is no surprise that one of the greatest players to ever grace the game would be such an influential figure in such a big decision and would be aware of the implications of the run out standing.

“The atmosphere between the teams would have been tense for the rest of the summer while the sometimes fraught relationship between the two countries' boards would have been further stretched,” the report said.

Describing Tendulkar as the “most influential person in Indian cricket”, the newspaper said, “Once Tendulkar had spoken Dhoni listened and a decision that — according to the letter of the law — was perfectly fair was swiftly overturned.

“It was also one that was quickly accepted by the rest of the India side which holds its illustrious team-mate in such high regard. The England team quickly emerged on the balcony to applaud the Indians as Bell ran out after tea. By then they knew that it was Tendulkar they were applauding.” — PTI

Special Correspondent reports

Asked at the post-match press conference on Monday whether India would have reinstated Bell had England not requested it, Dhoni said: “When we entered the dressing room we were not happy with the way it had gone.

“We had almost decided to call him back by which time the England coach and captain came in and we had a brief meeting. But we had decided by then to call him back.”