Calcutta: Although it has come late, India head coach Ravi Shastri did admit that the team management had erred by going in with an extra spinner in the form of Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test at Lord's despite conditions being overcast.

"In hindsight, it (selecting an extra spinner) was an error. We should have gone, seeing the conditions, with an extra seamer. It might have helped.

"Then again, you didn't know how much it would rain and whether a match could go into the final day where just in case a spinner is needed and the ball starts to turn. We would have needed him (Kuldeep) then.

"But in hindsight the way things panned out, the amount it rained and the time we lost, a seamer could have been a better option," Shastri said during a news conference in Nottingham on Thursday.

India badly missed the extra seamer at Lord's, where they were clobbered by an innings and 159 runs by England, who now lead 2-in the five-match series.

England batsmen too had no problems whatsoever in dealing with left-arm spinner Kuldeep, who bowled only nine overs and conceded 44 runs without taking any wicket.

Now, to be precise, it's India's poor batting that has been the main reason behind their defeats in the two Tests so far. But braving the current situation, Shastri prefers to remain optimistic, saying there's "no negative bone" in the current Indian side.

"Just believe in your self. That's what the players have to do. You have been in this position a couple of times before and you have responded.

"One thing for sure in this unit is that there is no negative bone, inspite of what happened in the last Test match. Conditions favoured England and that is no excuse whatsoever.

"As I said, we are here without a negative bone and wanting to play to win, as simple as that," Shastri emphasised.

Virat Kohli and his teammates have to be prepared to look "ugly and dirty" in order to deal with the conditions, Shastri said. "Conditions have been tough as you have seen right through this series.

"But that's where character and discipline come into play... The resolve to know where your off-stump is... You need to leave a lot of balls, be prepared to look ugly and dirty and show some grit."

Shastri, however, was right behind vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who like other established batsmen, has struggled in all four innings so far. "I don't think it's fair to single out any one player. Batsmen from both teams have struggled.

"When the occasion demands, it's a case of mental resolve - how you put mind over matter - and mental discipline will be the key as far as batsmen are concerned going forward in this Test.

"He (Rahane) is one of our pillars and he will remain so," Shastri elaborated.

Asked about the fitness update of captain Kohli, who was struggling with a lower-back pain during the second Test, and chances of Rishabh Pant coming into the XI, Shastri replied: "Virat is feeling much better.

"He is moving much better and improving... As for Rishabh, you only know at 11 am day after tomorrow (on Saturday)..."

Ben Stokes's return to the England side for the third Test is very much a possibility. Shastri's words, though, suggest India are not at all intimidated by the all-rounder's comeback in the squad.

"We focus on cricket. He (Stokes) is a terrific cricketer, and we would like to play against top cricketers. If he is cleared by the courts, what's the reason for him not to play!

"If I were in England's position, I would have wanted him to play," Shastri commented.