There is "every chance" England captain Ben Stokes will bowl in the fourth Test against India in Ranchi, according to vice-captain Ollie Pope.

The 32-year-old bowled in the nets on Wednesday as England, who are 2-1 down, prepare for Friday's fourth Test.

"He will see how he pulls up tomorrow," Pope told BBC Sport. "If he's not too sore, that's a positive sign."

Stokes has been hampered by a left knee issue for some time and despite efforts to get fully fit for the Ashes, he did not bowl in the last three Tests then not at all in the 50-over World Cup in the autumn.

His operation in November involved removing bone spur and stitches in his meniscus.

Stokes initially ruled himself out bowling on this tour, saying he had made a "pinky promise" to the England physio.

But after England's defeat in the third Test, the Durham man opened the door to the possibility of taking the ball in the final two Tests, saying he had been able to bowl at "100%" in training.

On Wednesday, Stokes bowled at batters in the nets for the first time since his surgery, then had a long conversation with team doctor Glen Rae.

"He didn't want to put himself under too much pressure early by saying he's going to be bowling, so he's played it day by day with how his knee is feeling," said Pope.

"I think he's been impressed by how his knee has been going.

"He's had a good bowl against our batters. We know what he's like, he's got that competitive edge. There's every chance he'll bowl, but he's not confirmed it yet."

If Stokes is able to bowl, it will provide England with a huge boost as they bid to avoid a first series defeat under his captaincy.

Stokes is three wickets shy of becoming only the third man in Test cricket - after Jacques Kallis and Sir Garfield Sobers - to do the double of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets.

His availability as a bowler would aid the balance of the team, with the Ranchi pitch suggesting England could revert to three frontline spinners in their XI.

Pace bowlers James Anderson and Mark Wood are likely to sit out following their workload in the 434-run defeat in the third Test, so off-spinner Shoaib Bashir could to be recalled to join leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and left-armer Tom Hartley.

Ollie Robinson may play for the first time since the third Ashes Test as the sole seamer, supplemented by whatever Stokes is able to bowl.

Pope described the Ranchi pitch as "interesting", with one side of the surface already cracked two days before the Test.

"It does look slightly different on one side of the wicket to the other," said batter Pope.

"The cracks in the wicket aren't just cracks, there are separate bits of ground that could open up with a lot of sun on them. The ball could deviate more off them if they open up like we expect them to."