Anushka Sharma’s Rs 50 prayer gadget steals IPL spotlight: What was she counting?

The cameras may have been fixed on Virat Kohli during the high-voltage IPL 2026 qualifier between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, but it was Anushka Sharma sitting in the stands who unexpectedly set social media ablaze.

This time, it wasn’t just her reactions, nervous expressions, or celebratory moments that grabbed attention. Internet users zoomed in on two unusual accessories she wore throughout the match: a Tulsi kanthi mala around her neck and a tiny digital counter strapped to her finger.

Within hours, screenshots and close-up photos flooded X, Instagram, and fan pages, with many users asking the same question: what exactly was Anushka Sharma counting during the match?

The now-viral gadget is a digital tally counter, a small device commonly used to keep track of numbers with a simple click.

While it is often associated with gyms, attendance counting, or event management, the device has increasingly found a place in religious practices.

Many Hindu devotees use the counter while performing naam japa, the repetitive chanting of sacred names or mantras such as ‘Ram’, ‘Radhe Radhe’, or ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.

Instead of mentally keeping track or using traditional prayer beads, users simply press the button after every chant and let the digital screen record the count.

The device, which costs roughly Rs 50 online, has now become an unlikely internet sensation after being spotted on Sharma’s finger during the tense knockout clash.

Several users described it as ‘spiritual tech’, while others praised the actor for openly embracing religious practices despite being constantly under public scrutiny. One viral X post called Sharma’s accessory her “secret prayer weapon”, while another described her as a “positive role model” for younger fans.

Not everyone was impressed, though. Some critics accused the trend of being performative, with a few users mocking the public display of devotion online.

This is not the first time the actor has been seen using the digital counter. Both Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have frequently been photographed wearing similar devices during temple visits and spiritual gatherings over the past few years.

The couple’s growing inclination toward spirituality has become increasingly visible in public appearances, with the duo regularly visiting temples, attending satsangs, and seeking blessings from spiritual leaders.

Interestingly, the same digital counters are also used by many Muslims during zikr or tasbih recitations, where phrases like ‘SubhanAllah’ and ‘Allahu Akbar’ are repeated a fixed number of times.

However, during the IPL qualifier, the tiny gadget became much more than a prayer tool; it turned into social media’s latest obsession.