Shubman Gill hit the field during the 1st ODI against New Zealand in Auckland with a small, mysterious device stuck to his forehead, and it immediately had everyone wondering if it was even allowed. Gill wore the “Temple” gadget for the opening few overs of the match, drawing significant notice, especially after Indian bowlers absolutely dominated New Zealand in the first innings at Eden Park.
What Is This Thing, Anyway?
This “Temple” gadget, sitting right on his forehead, is a wearable designed to track cerebral blood flow and other physiological signals tied to how the brain is working. Gill has apparently been rocking it throughout the New Zealand tour, even in training sessions. But once he stepped onto Eden Park for the 1st ODI, it got real attention. It uses optical sensors and a system called BrainFlow to pick up changes in blood flow inside the brain from signals read directly from the forehead. Gill isn’t the only athlete to try it either; badminton star PV Sindhu wore the same device during the World Championships in New Delhi back in August.
Brain Power or Borderline? The ICC’s Stance on Wearables
Beyond just blood flow, the Temple device aims to follow signals tied to oxygenation and cognitive load. This means it tries to gauge how the body and brain respond when mental effort goes up. That’s a huge deal for a player batting or captaining in a pressure situation, right? The device even produces an “Entropy score” to show physiological strain, which reflects exercise, sleep, and stress. It is not meant to be read as a sign of any single condition.
But here’s the kicker: this thing has opened up a fair question about what’s actually allowed on the field in international cricket. Wearable gadgets in international matches fall under the ICC’s Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) rules and its Playing Conditions. Trackers that do not communicate, such as telemetry, are part of this discussion. The exact line on devices like Temple is now under the microscope, and we’re all waiting to see how the ICC ultimately rules on this kind of technology in live play.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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