India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has left cricket fans curious after he was spotted wearing a small device on the side of his forehead during a training session in Auckland on Thursday, October 29. The gadget, called Temple, has quickly started trending on X, with fans asking what it is, what it does and who makes it.
Temple is an experimental brain-monitoring wearable built by a startup co-founded by Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato. Here is everything to know about the device Shubman Gill is wearing.
What Is the Temple Device?
Temple is a wearable sensor that sits on the temple, the flat area on the side of the forehead near the eyes. Unlike regular fitness trackers that measure heart rate and steps from the wrist, Temple is designed to track changes in blood flow and oxygen levels in the brain, known as cerebral blood flow.
| Device name | Temple |
| Type | Brain and performance monitoring wearable |
| Where it is worn | On the temple, beside the forehead |
| What it tracks | Cerebral blood flow, brain oxygenation and physical strain |
| Made by | Temple, a startup co-founded by Deepinder Goyal |
| Funding | $54 million |
| Availability | Not yet launched for the public |
| Price | Not announced |
How Does Temple Work?
Temple uses light-based optical sensors to estimate changes in blood oxygen levels in the brain. According to reports, its technology, referred to as BrainFlow, tracks how blood flow to the brain changes with exercise, posture, stress and recovery. The device also reportedly generates an “Entropy” score, which is meant to show how much physical and mental strain the body is under based on training, sleep and stress.
The idea is that this data could help athletes understand fatigue and recovery better than heart-rate based trackers. However, Temple is a wellness and research device, not a medical one. It is not clinically approved for diagnosis, and there is no proven evidence yet that it improves concentration or athletic performance.
Who Makes Temple? The Deepinder Goyal Connection
Temple is the new venture of Deepinder Goyal, who stepped down as CEO of Zomato and its parent company Eternal in January this year. In February, the startup raised $54 million in a round led by Goyal himself, at a valuation of around $190 million.
Steadview Capital, Peak XV Partners, InfoEdge Ventures and Dharana Capital took part in the round, along with well-known founders such as Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CRED’s Kunal Shah and Zerodha’s Nithin and Nikhil Kamath. Goyal has said the device is being built for elite athletes and will measure things that current wearables cannot.
Shubman Gill Spotted Wearing Temple in Auckland
Gill was seen wearing Temple throughout India’s practice session in Auckland, as the ODI squad began preparing for the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand. Photos of Gill with the device on his forehead were widely shared on social media, and the sighting quickly turned into one of the top cricket talking points of the day.
Neither Gill nor the BCCI has said why he is using the device, and there is no confirmation that the Indian team has officially adopted it. Gill is not the first top Indian athlete to try it. Badminton star PV Sindhu has also been seen wearing Temple at major events, including the BWF World Championships.
Can Shubman Gill Wear Temple in a Match?
Wearing a device in training is very different from wearing it during an international match. The ICC has strict rules on electronic and communication devices in the players’ and match officials’ area. Whether Temple can be used in official games will depend on its features and whether it meets ICC regulations. For now, it has only been seen during practice.
India vs New Zealand ODI Series Schedule
Gill will lead India in the five-match ODI series, which starts after the ongoing T20I series. India currently lead the T20I series 3-0.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | November 4 | Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | November 7 | Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | November 10 | Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | November 13 | Mount Maunganui |
| 5th ODI | November 15 | Mount Maunganui |
Why Temple Is Getting So Much Attention
Wearables are already common in cricket, from GPS vests that track running loads to rings and wrist bands that monitor sleep and recovery. Temple stands out because it targets the brain, an area most consumer trackers do not touch. Seeing India’s captain test an unreleased Indian-made device, backed by one of the country’s best-known founders, has made it one of the most talked-about gadgets in Indian sport right now.
With the ODI series starting on November 4, fans will be watching closely to see whether Gill continues to use Temple, and whether more Indian players join him.