It was in South Africa last November that Irfan was sent back to India, mid-way through a tour. After a stint with Australian legend Dennis Lillee, Irfan is raring to go.
Along with elder brother Yusuf Pathan he will try to make an impression during the Twenty20 tournament.
India will face Scotland on Thursday at Kingsmead and take on Pakistan on Friday.
Indian team manager Lalchand Rajput felt that experienced players like Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, who were ignored for the England tour, are hungry for success and will adjust to the conditions in South Africa quickly.
"There are utility men like Yusuf Pathan. He is a batsman who is a brilliant fielder and can bowl a bit too. Then we have Rohit Sharma who has got a 100 in a Twenty20 game and can also bowl off-spinners," he said.
Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images