New Delhi: As the India-Pakistan Champions Trophy game began Sunday, many viewers were puzzled about a band some Indian players were sporting on their wrists.
While it was strapped on tightly like any other fitness tracker or smartwatch, the wristband did not have a screen, inviting the curiosity of viewers. Many people have in the past contributed to long Reddit threads, trying to decode this mysterious band.
The device, which was being sported by Virat Kohli and Harshit Rana in the Sunday game, is made by a US-based company named WHOOP. It works on a monthly subscription and provides health monitoring through a band that comes free with the membership.
“Performing every day requires an understanding of the relationship between your physical exertion, mental load, and your body’s ability to bounce back. From sleep to stress, and steps to recovery, WHOOP captures everything,” the brand says on its website.
Founded in 2012 by Will Ahmed, the fitness tracker has been popularly used by NBA players and international golfers before cricketers started sporting them in international games. Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah have also been seen with the band.
While athletes say it is highly accurate in tracking cardio workouts and the body’s sleep recovery, users on YouTube and Reddit also pointed out that with no screen, the fitness tracker was ideal for use in professional cricket—where cellular smartwatches can be used for spot fixing.
WHOOP is not an official sponsor, but many cricketers started wearing it after Kohli was first spotted with the band in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. India’s women cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur have also been spotted wearing the fitness band.
WHOOP introduced its 4.0 version in 2021 and partnered with OpenAI to launch WHOOP Coach, offering real-time stress scores and recovery tracking.
The fitness accessory has popularly been worn by NBA star Lebron James, star swimmer Michael Phelps, and golfers Rory Mcllroy and Tiger Woods.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya, who dismissed Babar Azam in Sunday’s India-Pakistan match, also grabbed social media attention with his watch, which many identified as a Richard Mille.
“Is that a Richard Mille watch on Hardik Pandya’s wrist? What happens if he dives and falls on his left wrist. Ludicrous.
Is that a Richard Mille on Hardik Pandya’s wrist??
What happens if he dives and falls on his left wrist!
Ludicrous. 🤷🏻♂️#INDvsPAK #iccchampionstrophy2025 #ICCChampionsTrophy
— Manoj Das (@stingdas) February 23, 2025
(Edited by Nisheeth Upadhyay)
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