England captain Ben Stokes will be "good to go" on day four of the fourth Test against India, according to vice-captain Ollie Pope. Stokes, 34, retired hurt on 66 during the evening session of the third day due to cramp but returned to the crease after the fall of three wickets, finishing the day on 77 not out. His performance helped England reach a dominant position of 544-7, securing a first-innings lead of 186.

Stokes, who underwent hamstring surgery in January after tearing it for the second time in five months, has bowled more overs in this series than in any other in his career. Despite concerns about his fitness at the start of the summer, Stokes has been a key player for England, taking 16 wickets and bowling 129 overs across three and a half Tests.

"He is just cramping down his left leg, and it spread to his whole leg from what I understand," Pope said. "He has pushed himself to some serious limits so far, and that was a build-up of it. He will be good to go tomorrow, I am sure."

Stokes' resilience and determination have been evident throughout the series. On day one of the third Test at Lord's, Pope mentioned that he had to ensure Stokes "doesn't push himself to a ridiculous place" after an injury scare. However, with the game on the line, Stokes bowled marathon spells of 9.2 and 10 overs, helping England secure victory on the final day.

At Old Trafford, Stokes took 5-72 in the first innings, marking his first five-wicket haul since 2017. "I'm there to give him a nudge, but he also gets this crazy look in his eye sometimes when you go over," Pope said. "Rooty [Joe Root] plays a similar role, but there are times when you can't take the ball off him. He gets his vision, and that's what makes him such a great cricketer."

Stokes' leadership and performance continue to be pivotal for England as they aim to maintain their dominance in the series against India.