The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
