Brendon McCullum says he might have to carry Ben Stokes again from bowling within the ongoing sequence with India however admits it's "a good sign" the England captain is open to the potential of reprising his allrounder function within the remaining two Tests.

Stokes has been progressing his bowling all through this tour following an operation on his left knee on the finish of November. Having began in Visakhapatnam forward of the second Test, he has stepped up his depth in Rajkot during the last week, and has been bowling again at his full tempo.

"I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no," he answered, when requested about bowling within the fourth or fifth Test. "Me being me, I'm always very optimistic about most things. That will be a more detailed chat with the medical team about what workload I have done to pass me off as not being a massive risk.

"I managed to bowl at 100% in one of many warm-up days right here which made me really feel fairly good. I felt like I may have bowled within the recreation however that might have been silly."

Speaking on Monday, McCullum was buoyed by Stokes' confidence. And while acknowledging Stokes would not do anything drastic, there was an appreciation that he, as head coach, had a duty to ensure his captain did not push himself unnecessarily.

"Well, it is good that he is really getting right into a state the place he thinks he may bowl," McCullum said. "But Ben is intelligent; he is actually intelligent as nicely. He will not bowl until he thinks he is legitimately capable of bowl. The drawback could be if he begins getting right into a spell after which he cannot get out of the spell. So we'll see what unfolds.

"If he does get that bit between his teeth, then let's see where the danger lies there and try and pull him away from it. But it's a good sign."

Ben Stokes has been bowling within the nets in India•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Anderson and Wood excelled within the first innings, with Wood taking 4 of the 5 dismissals between them. But they went wicketless throughout the second and seemed drained throughout their collective 23 overs. It meant an inexperienced spin assault was uncovered as India piled on the runs to offer England an insurmountable goal of 557.

"We've got two really good options on the sideline as well with Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson," McCullum stated. "So we've got a really good squad to pick from. We just need to work out when we get there what conditions we're going to be confronted with and see the health of the army, and then make a decision on what we go with.

"Obviously we've not seen the circumstances in Ranchi but. I feel it'd spin. I suppose it ought to spin however we'll see once we get there. But, look, we're actually comfy with what we have got and we're actually not going so as to add to the squad.

"We've got a group of players here who have played some outstanding cricket so far over the last three Test matches and whatever XI we decide to go with we will fully back. Hopefully we'll be in a different situation to what we're in now."