Shubman Gill wears 'Temple' device above left eye in 1st NZ v IND ODI

India captain Shubman Gill was seen wearing a small device called 'Temple' above his left eye during the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4. He had previously been spotted wearing the same device during India's training session in Auckland on October 29.

The Temple wearable was developed by a team led by Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato and Eternal. The unit is positioned around the temple region, just above the eyes, and is designed to remain attached to the skin during physical activity.

According to the developers, Temple is intended to monitor blood flow to the brain and to collect data on an athlete’s physical and neurological responses. The device is described as capable of providing information about cognitive load and the mental effort involved during training and competition.

Those collecting and analysing the data say the measurements can be used alongside regular fitness metrics to give athletes another means of monitoring workload. The manufacturer frames the technology as a tool for assessing both physiological and brain-related responses during exertion.

Temple has been used by athletes outside cricket as well; badminton player PV Sindhu has been spotted wearing the device in recent months. Its adoption by sportspeople has drawn attention to Deepinder Goyal’s wearable technology for monitoring brain-related responses during physical activity.

Neither Gill nor the BCCI has offered a public explanation for the specific purpose of using Temple during India's training sessions and matches.

Gill’s use of the device coincided with the start of the five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand.