All-rounder Stokes struggled across the final three days of the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford, as he bowled 24 overs in India’s first innings but only 11 in their second.
He was seen struggling with his right shoulder in the warm-up on day five and was continually prodding at it during his bowling spell.
But he insists he would not have done anything differently regarding his workloads across the first four Tests.
“When I’m out on the field I play to win and give everything I possibly can. If I feel there’s a moment in a game where I need to put everything I’m feeling aside, I’ll do that because it’s how much this team means to me, how much playing for England means to me, how much winning means to me.
“There’s absolutely nothing I could have done before. Being a professional sportsman, injuries are part of this game and I can’t do anything about that.”
It is a significant blow to England considering his superb form that has seen him earn back-to-back player of the match awards.
He took 5-72 with the ball in India’s first innings in Manchester, then followed up with 141 with the bat, becoming only the fourth England man to take a five-wicket haul and score a century in the same Test.
It leaves England’s seam bowling attack looking light. Tongue took 11 wickets across the first two Tests, Woakes has taken 10 while Overton has only played one Test, which came against New Zealand in 2022.
Atkinson also makes his return from injury for his first appearance of the series, having hurt his hamstring during England’s one-off Test v Zimbabwe in May. He has played just one second XI game since.
Without a specialist spinner, Bethell and Root are the part-time options.
England lead the series 2-1 after India’s hard-fought efforts to draw the series at Old Trafford kept the series alive.
