New Age Wearables Embraced by Indian Cricket Team - WHOOP

India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 on June 29th. While that might be old news for many, this isn’t about India’s victory or the thrilling moments of the match. Instead, let’s dive into the fascinating analysis that happens behind the scenes. Like many other team and individual sports, cricket is now heavily influenced by technology, which aids in training and enhances performance.

This year’s T20 World Cup was no exception, with technology being omnipresent—from ball tracking and ultra-edge technology to assist umpires with crucial decisions, to live tracking of fielding positions for better visuals and analysis. However, a new technology stole the spotlight: wearables for every player. These wearables needed to be lightweight, durable, and capable of accurately capturing and measuring essential data points. You might think of something like the Apple Watch Ultra, but the WHOOP wearable made its mark.

WHOOP, a fitness wearable brand founded in 2012, has gained significant attention over the past five years through partnerships with high-profile athletes like Michael Phelps, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods. WHOOP has also secured strategic partnerships, becoming the approved fitness wearable for Major League Baseball, the PGA Tour, and now the ICC T20 World Cup. In May 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo even became the global ambassador for WHOOP. The Indian cricket team’s engagement with WHOOP began with Virat Kohli during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 and has since expanded to include the entire Indian cricket team, along with their coaching and support staff.

What sets WHOOP apart is its no-distraction (no screen) design, which claims to offer best-in-class features and accuracy, continuously collecting data points 24/7. It can analyze activities performed and suggest the best workout for the day, directing analysis to the most relevant areas for each user. This combination of advanced features, thoughtful design, and strategic celebrity endorsements has brought significant attention to the brand.

As technology becomes more integrated into cricket, from decision-making support for umpires to personal fitness and performance data used for training, the sport is poised for great advancements. The New Age Wearables Embraced by Indian Cricket Team - WHOOP, is a testament to how technology can provide a competitive edge, contributing to the continued evolution of cricket and sports.