Shubman Gill Features In Global Campaign For Nike’s Neuroscience-Based Footwear To Help Athletes Feel Calm, Focused And Present

Nike Mind 001 and Mind 002 tap into the mind-body connection by activating sensory receptors in the feet

Nike announces Indian cricket champion Shubman Gill as the face of its global campaign for Nike Mind 001 mule and Mind 002, its first neuroscience-based footwear. Gill brings to life the mindset at the core of Nike Mind, designed to help athletes* stay present before and after competition. The two mind-altering silhouettes, scientifically shown to activate key sensory areas of the brain via underfoot stimulation, deepen an athlete’s awareness, helping ground them in their bodies and bring them back to the present moment.

“As athletes, we know how much of our performance comes down to what’s happening in our mind, just as much as our physical training”, says Shubman Gill. “Growing up, I have worn plenty of Nike gear across different stages of my sport, Nike’s commitment to innovation and quality is unmatched. It’s great to see them creating innovations that support not just the physical demands of athletes, but the mental side as well.”

“Shubman brings a mindset that defines Nike Mind – sharp, disciplined and locked in when it matters most,” said Tarundeep Singh, General Manager, Nike India. “He is an athlete who understands the power of being present, and that makes him a natural fit for this innovation. India’s athlete and sporting community continues to evolve at pace, and we love to see more and more of our athletes on the global stage.”

This is the second appearance of Shubman Gill in a Global Nike campaign in only a matter of months after he recently featured as one of the athletes in the brand’s ‘Just Do It’ campaign.

“I’m incredibly grateful for my partnership with Nike over the years. We share the same core values—authenticity, hard work, and the belief that sport has the power to inspire. I hope moments like these can help to inspire the next generation of Indian athletes to see it and believe it,” says Shubman Gill.

About Nike Mind

An engineering and manufacturing challenge over 10 years in the making, the Mind 001 and Mind 002 feature 22 independent foam nodes per shoe that are bonded to a flexible, water-resistant material that allows them to act as pistons and gimbals as athletes move — imparting the feeling, and even the texture, of the ground directly beneath. This interaction heightens sensory awareness.

The Mind 001 and Mind 002 are the first innovations born from Nike’s Mind Science Department, a cutting-edge group within the Nike Sport Research Lab that’s deepening Nike’s understanding of the mind-body connection. Leveraging one of very few mobile brain and body imaging labs in the world, the Mind Science Department’s neuroscientists study the nervous system, brain activity and cognition of athletes in motion — leading to unique insights informing a completely new category of products and services to help athletes better prepare, train, compete and recover.

The Mind 001 mule offers easy-on, easy-off convenience and comfort, while the Mind 002 sneaker anchors the foot to the footbed for increased sensation and support. To complement Nike Mind’s innovative application of mind science research, every element of both styles — form, material and construction — was carefully considered to ensure a premium experience of the technology. This amplifies the athlete’s connection with their footwear, environment and body, making the Mind 001 and Mind 002 not only worn but felt.

The first release of Nike Mind 001 and Mind 002 is available at nike.com for a limited time in January in India. Further availability still to be confirmed.

*If you have a body, you are an athlete.