Shubman Gill flaunts Temple wearable in India training ahead of New Zealand ODIs

Shubman Gill was spotted wearing the Temple fitness-tracking device during India's training session in Auckland ahead of the New Zealand ODI series. Badminton star PV Sindhu has also been seen using the wearable, which aims to track brain-related signals.Shubman Gill batting in a training session in Auckland with a Temple devide (Courtesy of BCCI/X)New Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 15:17 ISTShubman Gill grabbed attention during India's preparations for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand after he was spotted wearing a Temple fitness-tracking device on his forehead in Auckland. The India captain's choice of wearable has added to the growing curiosity around a device designed to track signals linked to the brain, rather than just conventional fitness metrics.Gill was seen wearing the small device during a training session after joining the Indian squad in Auckland.The sighting is notable because badminton star PV Sindhu has also been spotted wearing Temple, including during the BWF World Championships in August. While Gill has not publicly explained why he is using the device, its appearance on two prominent Indian athletes has drawn attention to the emerging technology and its potential role in elite sport.Getting into the groove Captain @ShubmanGill, @klrahul and Gurnoor Brar train in Auckland for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Visuals from the same #NZvIND #TeamIndia https://t.co/Kd6DkXMrkK— BCCI (@BCCI) October 29, 2026WHAT IS THE TEMPLE DEVICE?Temple is a wearable developed by a team associated with Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal. Positioned on the side of the forehead, near the temple, it is designed to monitor cerebral blood flow and other physiological signals associated with brain function. Unlike smartwatches and fitness bands that focus largely on heart rate, movement and sleep, Temple aims to offer insights into cognitive workload and the body's response to stress. The device uses optical sensors through a technology called BrainFlow to track changes in cerebral blood flow. It also aims to monitor signals linked to oxygenation and cognitive load. Its Entropy score is intended to indicate physiological strain, which can be influenced by factors such as exercise, sleep and stress. However, the device is intended for wellness and research, not medical diagnosis, and its practical value for athletic performance remains to be established.PV SINDHU WAS SPOTTED USING ITSindhu's use of Temple first drew attention when she wore it during the Thomas and Uber Cup in April, before being spotted with it again at the BWF World Championships. The badminton star has reportedly been testing the wearable as its developers continue to explore its potential applications. For elite athletes, tracking workload and recovery is an important part of preparation. A device designed to monitor brain-related signals could potentially provide additional information about cognitive strain, but it remains unclear how individual athletes are using the data or how it influences their training.GILL PREPARES FOR BUSY NEW ZEALAND TOURThe five-match ODI series begins on November 4 at Eden Park, with senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli set to return to the 50-over side. Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and pacer Gurnoor Brar have also joined the squad.Gill was also seen speaking with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak before heading into the nets. He scored 754 runs during India's five-Test series in England earlier this year and will lead the side in the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand, starting November 19.The India captain is reportedly funding four to five net bowlers to help sharpen his preparations for the tour. After the ODI series, Gill will turn his attention to the longer format, with the demanding New Zealand assignment requiring careful preparation across conditions and formats.- Ends