He was the part of the team touring South Africa for the one T20 played on 31 March 2012 where he had figures of 4–0–44–1 but was yet to bat. Pathan also played for the Delhi Daredevils the Indian Premier League in 2012, taking only 8 wickets from 17 matches with an average of 58.12.[76] BCCI announced on 13 July 2012 inclusion of Irfan Pathan in the Indian team for the tour of Sri Lanka as a replacement to the injured Vinay Kumar.[77] With his all round performance, India managed to win four of the five ODIs and the lone T20 match in the next series in Sri Lanka.[78] Pathan emerged as the top wicket taker with a 5-wicket haul.[79]