Umar Gul, a former Pakistani cricketer, believes he is a better batsman than a legendary Indian cricketer, explaining that he won the Player of the Match award for his batting in a World Cup match, whereas the latter does not.

In an interview on the sidelines of Legends League Cricket 2022 in Oman, Gul compared his batting style to that of former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, explaining that while the latter has been successful as a tail-end batter in World Cup games, he was adjudged the Player of the Match in the 2012 World T20 in Colombo for his 17-ball 32. Pakistan also won by two wickets with Gul picking 1/19 with the ball in that group-stage match. “Harbhajan Singh batted well in a World Cup match, but I won Player of the Match for my batting in that match. So, I am a better batsman than Harbhajan Singh,” Gul stated. In the ODI format, Harbhajan has amassed 1237 runs in 236 matches, compared to Gul’s 457 runs in 130 matches. Gul, on the other hand, bested Harbhajan by 57 runs in T20Is, scoring 165 runs in 27 innings. 

As of December 24, 2021, Harbhajan had announced his retirement from the game, ending a career spanning 23 years. At the Asia Cup in March 2016, he played his last T20I for India against UAE in Dhaka. In October 2020, the Pakistani fast bowler returned from all forms of cricket. He was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the run to the 2007 and 2009 World T20 finals.