The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
